Petaluma Transit is fare-free!
August 28, 2024
This event has passed, but you can watch the recording above!
On July 1, Petaluma Transit went fare-free under a one-year pilot program.
Petaluma Transit's pilot fare-free program has raised questions about how public transportation is funded. How do we pay for this community benefit and public transportation more generally?
Join Rachel Ede, the Transit Director of Santa Rosa City Bus, for an overview of transit funding in California and the challenges facing public transit agencies. Petaluma Transit Manager, Jared Hall, will join Rachel for Q&A following the presentation.Food for thought in preparation for this forum:
Did you know many Americans believe drivers pay the full cost of the roads they use through gas taxes and other user fees? This is not true.
Depending on the source you reference, the taxes and fees paid by automobile drivers cover a little over half the cost of maintaining our roads and highways in California. The rest are paid through general taxes paid by all taxpayers, whether they drive or not. (Source: The conservative-leaning, Tax Foundation)
Given this context:
What does it mean when someone suggests that transit should "pay for itself"?
Should automobile drivers also "pay for themselves"?
How do we measure the community benefits of public transit?
Should we be making transportation policy choices based on which investments deliver the most benefits for the public, regardless of mode?
