Denver RTD Zero Fare for Better Air Impact Analysis

TMD recently worked with the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) to analyze the impacts of the August 2022 Zero Fare for Better Air program, a state-funded pilot that allowed RTD and other agencies across Colorado to provide a month of fare-free transit. TMD analyzed ridership and operational and customer experience impacts before, during, and after the August 2022 pilot to better understand program’s impact and better position RTD for future free- or reduced-fare initiatives. TMD’s analyses were an integral part of RTD’s mandated report to the State of Colorado and helped informed key takeaways and lessons learned from the pilot.