SUBJECT:
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Approval of a resolution adopting amendments to CapMetro’s Fare Policy, and approving the Title VI Fare Equity Analysis related to proposed changes to CapMetro’s Fare Payment Systems.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for this action is available in the FY2025 Operating Budget.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Goal Alignment:
☒ 1. Customer ☒ 2. Community
☐ 3. Workforce ☐ 4. Organizational Effectiveness
Strategic Objectives:
☒ 1.1 Safe & Reliable Service ☒1.2 High Quality Customer Experience ☒ 1.3 Accessible System
☒ 2.1 Support Sustainable Regional Growth ☐ 2.2 Become a Carbon Neutral Agency
☒ 2.3 Responsive to Community and Customer Needs ☐ 2.4 Regional Leader in Transit Planning
☐ 3.1 Diversity of Staff ☐ 3.2 Employer of Choice ☐ 3.3 Expand Highly Skilled Workforce
☒ 4.1 Fiscally Responsible and Transparent ☐ 4.2 Culture of Safety ☐ 4.3 State of Good Repair
EXPLANATION OF STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT: A more robust and reliable fare collection system will enhance the customer experience, reduce downtime, and better match current backend processes. Further, the CapMetro Fare Policy is required to be reviewed annually and staff has identified opportunity
BUSINESS CASE: CapMetro is updating our fare collection system to better support our customers with high quality, transit-supportive technology. The software used to support our current system is no longer supported by the vendor and will be retired on March 5, 2025. In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and CapMetro’s Title VI policy, a Title VI Equity Analysis has been performed for the proposed changes to customer payment systems to assess whether the implementation these changes has a disparate impact on minority populations or a disproportionate burden on low-income individuals.
Additionally, CapMetro’s Fare Policy was reviewed and opportunities to provide clarity within the policy were identified, such as consolidating a previous Board resolution related to fares within the CapMetro Fare Policy.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The item was presented and recommended to advance to the full board by the Finance, Administration and Audit Committee on January 15, 2025.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: CapMetro launched a new fare system in early 2023. Updating our fare collection system is important because our current system is no longer supported by the current vendor and is being retired on March 5, 2025. There will be numerous changes and improvements as part of the system update, all of which are aimed to provide a better experience for our customers and operators.
CapMetro will be rolling out new software and onboard fare validators and making changes to the types of passes available. Along with these changes a Title VI Analysis has been performed to ensure that there is no disparate impact on minority populations or a disproportionate burden on low-income individuals. The CapMetro Fare Policy is being updated alongside this rollout to support the changes and provide cleanup/consolidation of multiple policy documents into one Fare Policy.
The CapMetro Team is leveraging this opportunity to make the following improvements:
• New validators: New validators are being installed immediately on CapMetro vehicles with improved scanning technology, including visual and audio indicators if a customer’s fare has been accepted or denied (a feature described as “helpful” by frontline staff and operators).
• New and improved apps: The CapMetro app will be retired and replaced with the Transit and Umo apps. Customers will use Transit to plan their trips and Umo to pay for fares. This is part of an iterative process to reduce the number of customer apps.
• Tap to Pay: Customers will be able to tap to pay with a credit or debit card, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
• New reloadable fare card: New reloadable fare cards will be available and will still have fare capping.
• The digital 31-day and 7-day passes will not be available for purchase through the app and retired over attrition. Customers using the app instead use fare capping to derive the same benefit as the retiring time-based passes.
• The HMIS fare program will be continued, and all customers will be re-issued a new 1-year fare card. CapMetro staff are working closely with service providers to prepare for this process.
This action includes Board approval of the Title VI Analysis, and adoption of amendments to the Fare Policy.
DBE/SBE PARTICIPATION: Does not apply
PROCUREMENT: Does not apply
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT: Finance
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RESOLUTION
OF THE
CAPITAL METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF TRAVIS
AI-2024-1353
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Texas Transportation Code Section 451.061(D), the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is required to impose reasonable and nondiscriminatory fares, tolls, charges, rents and other compensation for the use of the transit authority system sufficient to produce revenue, together with the tax revenue received by the authority, in an amount adequate to pay all expenses necessary to operate and maintain the transit authority system; and
WHEREAS, updates to current systems are necessary to support the rollout of new fare collection hardware and software; and
WHEREAS, these updates also necessitate updates to the CapMetro Fare Policy and Fare Structure; and
WHEREAS, CapMetro has conducted a Fare Equity Analysis for the proposed fare change as is required by FTA Title VI Circular 4702.1B and finds no disparate impact or disproportionate burden on minority and low-income populations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the CapMetro Board of Directors hereby adopts the amendments to CapMetro’s Fare Policy, and approves the Title VI Fare Equity Analysis related to proposed changes to CapMetro’s Fare Payment Systems.
____________________ Date: ____________________
Secretary of the Board
Becki Ross