Unlimited Access

Jeffrey Brown

Daniel B. Hess

Donald Shoup

Institute of Transportation Studies

US Transit Ridership

• Some foreign cities have more transit ridership than all U.S. systems combined

• Riders now occupy only 27% of available seats on public transit

• Service improvements to attract new riders have been disappointing and costly

What is Unlimited Access?

• Students present university ID to board public transit

• A transit ride to campus or anywhere else is free at any time everyday

• The university pays the transit agency for student rides

35 Unlimited Access Programs

• 61 ¢ cents per ride

• 50 rides per person per year

• $30 per person per year

Why is Unlimited Access So Cheap?

• Universities buy at the pass rate

• Universal coverage avoids adverse selection

• Uses excess transit capacity

Unlimited Access Fills Empty Seats

Source: Student Response to 1998-1999 CTA U-Pass Program. Chicago Transit Authority.

All Riders v ersus U-Pass Ride rs

2 7 %

3 2 %

2 1 %

1 2 %

8 %1 0 %

4 0 %

2 2 %

1 7 %

11 %

- 20%

- 10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

T im e o f D ay

All Transit Rides U-Pass Rides

AM P e a k Midda y P M P e a k Eve ning Owl

Who Pays for Unlimited Access?

• 1/3 of universities pay the full cost

• 2/3 of universities require students to pay some or all of the cost

Students Strongly Support Unlimited Access

In February 1997 students voted 4 to 1 in favor of a transit pass program, and the program began operation in April of the same year.

Central Ohio Transit Authority

The student body reaffirmed their support by voting 15 to 1 in April 1997 to raise student fees to enhance the transit pass program.

University of Colorado at Boulder

In Spring 1996 student voters approved, with 84% of the votes cast in support, continuing the transit pass program.

University of California, Santa Barbara

SubsequentGrowth

Year Fare RateUniversity Began Before After Change Elasticity (%/year)

Cal. State. Univ., Sacramento 1992 315,000 537,700 + 71 % -0.26 + 2 %University of California, Davis 1990 587,000 1,054,000 + 79 % -0.28 + 10 %University of Wisconsin, Madison 1996 812,000 1,653,000 + 104 % -0.34 *Univ. Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 1989 1,058,000 3,102,000 + 193 % -0.49 + 8 %University of Colorado, Boulder 1990 300,000 900,000 + 200 % -0.50 + 8 %

* Subsequent growth rate not available because the program started in 1996.

First-Year Increase in Student Ridership

UNLIMITED ACCESS INCREASES STUDENT RIDERSHIP

Unlimited Access Reduces Parking Demand

The philosophy behind starting our program in 1989 was a cost avoidance measure to keep from building more campus parking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The bus program has reduced parking demand by about 750 spaces, and has reduced political pressure to expand the parking supply. University of Colorado at Boulder

Unlimited Access Increases Students’ Access

Students love the program. It gives them tremendous freedom at an acceptable cost.

Marquette University

Students can live in better neighborhoods and get free rides to the university. They can also get to movies, shows, sports, and shopping.

University of Pittsburgh

Unlimited Access Saves Students Money

TABLE 2. FINANCIAL AID BUDGETS FOR UCLA UNDERGRADUATES, 1996-97

Off-Campus Housing

Cost On-Campus Housing Independent Parents’ HomeBooks & Supplies $930 $930 $930

Living $6,490 $7,101 $1,812

Personal $1,201 $954 $1,836

Transportation $172 $2,007 $2,777

Fees $4,050 $4,050 $4,050

Total Cost $12,843 $15,042 $11,405

Transportation as% of Total Cost

1% 13% 24%

Source: “Report on the University of California 1996-97 Cost of Attendance Survey, Appendix J.”Office of the President, University of California. Oakland, 1997.

Transit Agency Goals

• Increase Transit Ridership at a Low Marginal Cost

• Improve Transit Service for All Riders

• Improve Public Image by Demonstrating Willingness to be Innovative

• Foster Town-Gown Links with University

How Transit Systems Benefitfrom Unlimited Access

• Increase Total Ridership

• More Riders per Bus

• Reduce Operating Costs per Ride

• Add Vehicle Miles of Service

• Reduce Operating Subsidy Per Ride

• Reduce Total Operating Subsidy

Examining Transit System Benefits

• Methodology– Federal Transit Administration’s National Transit

Database

– Before and after data:• vehicle revenue miles

• unlinked passenger trips

• passenger miles

• annual operating expense

• passenger fares

Small Transit System

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Champaign-Urbana MTD

• Unlimited Access began in 1989

• In 1997-1998, students made 191 rides per year at a cost of $0.38 per ride

• Unlimited Access rides account for 61% of all rides on system

Total RidershipTotal Bus Ridership in Champaign-Urbana and the U.S.

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1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999

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National Average

Champaign-Urbana MTD

U.S. Transit Systems

Riders per Bus

Riders per Bus in Champaign-Urbana and the U.S.

0

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15

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1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999

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Before Unlimited Access After Unlimited Access (1989)U.S. - Bus

U.S. Transit Systems

Champaign-Urbana MTD

Vehicle Miles of ServiceVehicle Miles of Service in Champaign-Urbana and the U.S.

(million vehicle revenue miles per year)

0

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1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999

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icle

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Before Unlimited Access After Unlimited Access (1989)

National Average

Champaign-Urbana MTD

U.S. Transit Systems

Operating Cost per Ride

Operating Cost per Bus Ride in Champaign-Urbana and the U.S. (1999$)

$0.00

$1.00

$2.00

$3.00

$4.00

$5.00

1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999

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Before Unlimited Access After Unlimited Access (1989)Bus Only U.S.

Champaign-Urbana MTD

U.S. Transit Systems

Large Transit System

• University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (1994) and Marquette University (1995) have Unlimited Access programs with the Milwaukee County Transit System

• In 1997-1998, students made 114 rides per year at a cost of $0.54 per ride

• Unlimited Access rides account for 3% of all rides on system

Total Ridership

Total Bus Ridership in Milwaukee and the U.S.

0

20

40

60

80

100

1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999

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Before Unlimited AccessAfter Unlimited Access (1994, 1995)National Average

Milwaukee County Transit Sysetm

U.S. Transit Systems

Riders per Bus

Riders per Bus in Milwaukee and the U.S.

0

5

10

15

20

1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999

Rid

ers

per

Bu

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Before Unlimited Access After Unlimited Access (1994, 1995)

U.S. Bus Transit Systems

Milwaukee County Transit System

Operating Cost per Ride

Operating Cost per Bus Ride in Milwaukeeand the U.S. (1999$)

$0.00

$1.00

$2.00

$3.00

$4.00

$5.00

1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999

Op

erat

ing

Co

st p

er B

us

Rid

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Before Unlimited Access After Unlimited Access (1994, 1995)

Milwaukee County Transit System

U.S. Transit Systems

Why Don’t More Universities and Transit Agencies Offer Unlimited Access?

• More universities add Unlimited Access every year– Since our study year (1997/98) 6 to 8 programs have

begun, plus the Chicago U-Pass program (20 colleges)

• Many have not heard of Unlimited Access– failure to innovate, be creative

• Unlimited Access has high start-up costs– overcome tremendous resistance

– hard work and careful negotiation

BruinGO

Institute of Transportation Studies

Top-Ranked Bus Transit Systems in U.S., 1997

1. Santa Monica2. Champaign-Urbana Unlimited Access

3. Tucson4. Santa Barbara Unlimited Access (2 programs)

5. Milwaukee Unlimited Access (2 programs)

Method: Each system’s ranking was determined by comparing its performance against national averages for 12 different measures.

Source: Hartgen, David T. Comparative Performance of Major U.S. Bus Transit Systems. Charlotte, N.C.: Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Goals of BruinGO

• Increase public transit ridership to campus

• Reduce vehicle trips to campus

• Reduce parking demand on campus

Preliminary Results

• Faculty and Staff:

– Transit ridership to campus increased by 73%

– Vehicle trips to campus fell by 6%

– 828 fewer vehicle trips to campus per day

– Campus parking demand reduced by 828 spaces

How Does it Work?• All UCLA students, faculty, and

staff are eligible

• Riders swipe UCLA ID card

through electronic farebox

• Riders can use the Blue Bus on

any line, day or night, in any

direction

PUBLIC TRANSIT MODE SHAREFOR UCLA FACULTY AND STAFF

(1995 - 2001)

9.2%8.5%

7.6% 7.5%8.3%

7.6%

13.1%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Note: Faculty and staff commute mode shares were calculated from surveys conducted by UCLA Transportation Services and submitted to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Sample sizes were 3,051 employees in 2000 and 2,078 employees in 2001.

Cost of BruinGOCOMMUTER MODE SHARES OF UCLA FACULTY AND STAFF(Before and after BruinGO)

60%

20%

8%10%

2%

57%

16%13%

11%

2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Drive alone Carpool/vanpool Public transit Walk Bicycle

Before BruinGO (2000) After BruinGO (2001)

Note: Faculty and staff commute mode shares were calculated from surveys conducted by UCLA Transportation Services and submitted to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Sample sizes were 3,051 employees in 2000 and 2,078 employees in 2001.

Walk Share Increased

“Both my husband and I work on the UCLA campus.

Although we have a parking permit, we ‘walk and

swipe’ to work several times a week. While we

have the parking space, we use it less because of

the ability to use the bus.”

Cost of BruinGO

$ 0.45 per ride x 1.5 million rides

$ 673,000 total for first-year pilot program

$10 per person

Benefits of BruinGO

• Reduced parking demand

• Reduced vehicle travel

• Reduced vehicle emissions

• Savings for students, faculty, and staff

Daily Transit and Vehicle TripsUCLA Faculty and Staff

Before After % BruinGO BruinGO Change

Change

Transit Trips 1,656 2,871 + 1,215 + 73 %

Vehicle Trips 14,499 13,671 - 828 - 6 %

Reduced Parking Demand

• Reduces parking demand by 828 parking spaces

• 828 spaces x $2,517 per space = $2,085,000

“I love BruinGO. I gave up my parking permit because of it.”

“I never plan to apply for a parking permit again.”

“I mothballed my car and take the bus to school every day.”

Reduced Vehicle Travel

• BruinGO eliminated 273,000 faculty and staff vehicle trip to

campus

• 273,000 trips x 8.8 miles per trip = 2.4 million VMT

“Its about time that LA and its universities started to take some

responsibility for the horrendous traffic problems.”

“My car now sits in my driveway for weeks on end because I don’t need it.”

Reduced Vehicle Emissions

• 42,000 fewer pounds of CO

• 3,018,400 fewer pounds of CO2

• 3,800 fewer pounds of Nox

• 5,100 fewer pounds of ROG

“Students contribute to a healthier Los Angeles and we aid the community with this

simple innovation that reduces pollution.”

“I feel good about not driving to campus and thereby conserving natural resources.”

Reduced Fare Payments

• UCLA paid $ 673,000 for 1.5 million bus rides

• This subsidy is a direct benefit for riders

“I love the BruinGO program. I have like 700 bucks total … no kidding … and the

BruinGO program is like my lifeline.”

“I save about $10 weekly getting back and forth from school. $40 a month buys a

lot of groceries.”

“I know $1 a day doesn’t seem like a lot, but being able to ride free means I can put

the $25 I save per month to other things like schoolbooks.”

Comparing the Benefits and Costs

• Total benefits: $ 3,252,000 (reduced fares, reduced emissions,

reduced congestion, reduced parking demand)

• Total costs: $ 673,000

• Benefit/cost ratio: 4.8

“BruinGO is one of the smartest things UCLA has done in years.”

“Its wonderful to have ‘free’ transportation.”

“BruinGO makes me feel proud to be a Bruin.”

WHO RECEIVES THE BENEFITS?

Total Benefits = $ 3,252,000(reduced fares, reduced emissions,

reduced congestion, reduced parking demand)

Faculty and Staff22%

Students26%

Non-UCLA50%

UCLA Departments2%

WHO PAYS THE COST?

Total Cost = $ 673,000 (UCLA payments to the Blue Bus)

Students17%

Faculty and Staff25%

UCLA Departments4%

Non-UCLA54%

Benefits and Costs of BruinGO

Conclusion

BruinGO is

• a successful transportation policy • a creative financial aid program

Conclusion

• Nearly 3/4 of all seats on public transit are empty

• Unlimited Access is a creative, low-cost way to take advantage of excess capacity

• Unlimited Access improves students’ mobility• Unlimited Access reduces vehicle trips• Unlimited Access benefits students,

universities, transit systems, and communities