student free fare program

County of Fairfax, Virginia

Student Free Fare Program

Board Transportation CommitteeFebruary 12, 2016

Transit Services DivisionDepartment of Transportation


Student Free Fare ProgramProvide free trips on Fairfax Connector buses to Fairfax County high school and middle school students

• Developed in response to a Board Matter • FY2015 budget language requested the

Department of Transportation explore transportation partnerships with Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)

Department of Transportation 2


Purpose• Provide Fairfax County students with

transportation options– Freedom to access before and after

school activities, tutoring, sports, clubs, community service, and employment

• Workforce commuter preparedness– Preparing the next generation of transit

riders for a more urban transportation and multi-modal environment



Goals• Short Term

– Fill gaps for school transportation services impacted by new, later school hours for FCPS High School students

– Provide flexibility for students to travel on existing service

– Increase Fairfax Connector ridership



Goals• Long Term

– As the County continues to grow more urban & densely populated; positions Fairfax Connector to be a vital and sustainable transportation option

– Establishes transit as an important component of the County’s transportation system -- especially with Millennials

– Reduces congestion on existing & future transportation network, by reducing the number of trips that parents must make to transport students

– Workforce commuter preparedness



Pilot Program Requirements• Pass required • Pass distribution and permission forms maintained and

distributed by FCPS• Passes valid on Fairfax Connector only

‒ Monday - Friday‒ 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Parent/guardian permission required• Adherence to Fairfax Connector rules of conduct• Provisions for home and private school students who

reside in Fairfax County



Fairfax Connector Responsibilities• Outreach

– School outreach– Public outreach

• Pass production– Printing cost shared with

FCPS• Operational readiness

– Enhanced bus operator training– Farebox programming (ridership data)



FCPS Responsibilities

• Pass distribution and tracking – 6,200 passes distributed to schools– Passes have a unique serial number; allows schools

to track passes assigned to students • Regular coordination with FCDOT on school

outreach strategies and pass distribution



In-School Outreach• Targeted 5 schools based on

– Fairfax Connector bus service access– Geographic distribution

• Schools– Chantilly High School (Chantilly) – Edison High School (Alexandria)– Madison High School (Vienna)– Mount Vernon High School (Alexandria)– South Lakes High School (Reston)



Outreach

• Elizabeth’s Journey: How to Ride– Featured on Channels 16 & 21; in school media– Travel training– Bike & Ride training – Rules of riding

• “Give respect to get respect”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaFYZsCDgmA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaFYZsCDgmA


Outreach• Web & social media

campaign • Pre-school Year Events/Open

Houses– On-site pass sign-up/

distribution– On-site Fairfax Connector

bus, operator & staff– Customized map with bus

stop and route information


http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/news/2015/15_014.htm


08/31-09/06/1509/07-09/13/1509/14-09/20/1509/21-09/27/1509/28-10/04/1510/05/10/11/1510/12-10/18/1510/19-10/25/1510/26-11/01/1511/02-11/08/1511/09-11/15/1511/16-11/22/1511/23-11/29/1511/30-12/06/1512/07-12/13/1512/14-12/20/1512/21-12/27/1512/28-01/03/1601/04-01/10/1601/11-01/17/1601/18-01/24/1601/25-01/31/16

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500252

5931,300

1,8452,218

2,5202,499

3,2073,277

2,6633,140

3,4742,346

3,2783,873

4,0041,1991,220

3,2843,484

1,515890

Fairfax Connector Weekly Student Ridership

Major holiday

Severe weather


52,000 Student Trips in 20 Weeks



5 AM 6 AM 7 AM 8 AM 9 AM 10 AM 11 AM 12 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM 6 PM 7 PM 8 PM 9 PM 10 PM 11 PM85

886

8,209

2,930

1,6381,260 1,493 1,597

2,297 2,402

10,434

7,671

5,206

2,896

1,723

710356 156 93

Student Ridership by Time of Day **Total ridership since incep-tion


Student Participation Targeted 5 Schools


Location # of Passes Distributed

High School Population

% of Students with Passes

Chantilly HS

191 2,680 7%

Edison HS

814 1,936 42%

James Madison HS

81 2,109 4%

Mt. Vernon HS

314 1,963 16%

South Lakes HS 943 2,430 39%

TOTALS 2,343 11,118 students 22% (average)

*See handout for pass distribution at all eligible schools


Next Steps: Assess Opinions• Program impact

– Surveys• Gather quantitative and qualitative data from

students, parents, school officials, and bus operators

– Focus Groups• Allow students to share their ideas for shaping the

program • Increasing ridership among peers



Next Steps: Assess Challenges• Student behavior – a non-issue • Crowding

– Route 551 • 1 complaint, sent bus out immediately for overflow• Larger bus now accommodates all riders

• Pass “loss” – Max 2 replacements per student to prevent abuse

• Pass abuse – No credible reports; all suspicious activity monitored



Next Steps: Recommend


Program Recommendations

BOS & School Board

Outreach Experience

Program Data

Ridership & Survey DataLessons

Learned


Next Steps: Improve & Educate


Strengthen inter-agency partnerships

Develop targeted outreach strategies

Discuss bus pass

integration with Student

ID’s

Review program hours

and days

Educate & Increase support

among High School and Middle School Principals/

Administrators

Presentation to FCPS

School Board


Next Steps: Refine & Engage • Board member feedback and approval• Develop recommendations for SY2016-17

– Pass usage times• Later than 8pm? Weekends? • Need to remain cognizant of SLEEP study findings and

FCPS objectives – New FCPS student ID’s, with photo?– New schools to focus outreach – Ways to assist FCPS students served by Metrobus

instead of Fairfax Connector



Next Steps: Refine & Engage • Refine outreach program

– Update “Elizabeth’s Journey” PSA video– Update outreach materials– Robust social media campaign– Vary the schools for targeted outreach– Increase in-school and event outreach opportunities– Parity: include bus pass information/forms with school

parking pass information



Questions?


student free fare program

News & Politics