Zones, transfers, and tickets, oh my! The complicated web of RTD’s fare structure may soon be as extinct as the dodo bird. Lacy Bell, RTD Planning Project Manager for Operations, presented RTD’s recommendations to simplify RTD’s fare policy in an equitable and cost-effective manner to better serve the needs of the District and its customers.

Based on themes heard from the public in 2014, RTD’s light rail zones were deemed confusing and difficult to enforce, transfers were ineffective and outdated, and there was a strong desire for better bus-rail integration, reloadable smartcards, and affordability.

RTD’s recommended structure streamlines all services into four categories (local, regional, rail, and airport service), eliminates light rail zones and transfers, and introduces day passes. We recommend watching this video for a fun explanation of the changes and proposed costs.

With five new transit lines opening in 2016, a simplified fare structure will help customers of all types — the confident commuters to new visitors — to anticipate trip costs. This new fare structure may help attract new customers that were previously intimidated by all the unknowns about riding transit before (e.g. How much does it cost? How long is my transfer valid? Etc.)

When the RTD Smart Card system is ready for use as a “stored value” system, in which you put money on the card and deduct from it as you use it, RTD proposes a 25-cent reduction in fare cost when using the card instead of cash.

Following a series of public listening sessions around the region in late March and early April, the full slate of recommendations will go before the RTD Board later this spring.

See the full presentation deck for more details. Please visit the RTD Fare Study web page for the latest on the fare structure and fare proposals.

Lacy Bell, RTD Planning Project Manager for Operations presented to the Denver INC Transportation Committee on March 12 2015.