Fare Evasion Quarterly Update · 2019-11-01 · Fare evasion is no longer considered a criminal...
Transcript of Fare Evasion Quarterly Update · 2019-11-01 · Fare evasion is no longer considered a criminal...
Finance and Capital Committee
Information Item IV-A
November 7, 2019
Fare Evasion Quarterly Update
53 of 106
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Board Action/Information Summary
Action Information MEAD Number:202117
Resolution: Yes No
TITLE:
Fare Evasion - Quarterly Update, Q2 FY2020
PRESENTATION SUMMARY:
Management will present an update on the implications of fare evasion to the Board of Directors.
PURPOSE:
The Finance and Capital Committee will be provided information on the financial and operational impacts of fare evasion to Metro.
DESCRIPTION:
Key Highlights:
Metro estimates a conservative $40 million revenue loss in FY2019 andlower formula grant receipts due to undercounting of ridershipFare evasion on Metrobus has increased from 13% of boardings in Q1 ofFY2019 to 16% in Q1 of FY2020Metrobus fare evasion is increasing while ridership is decreasingFare evasion laws differ across the region’s jurisdictions
Background and History:
Fare evasion is a long-standing issue imposing an increasing risk to WMATA’soperating budget. The climbing number of fare evasions skews ridershipmetrics thereby reducing potential federal grant funding.
Discussion:
Metro’s operating budget continues to be stifled by fare revenue loss on bothMetrobus and Metrorail. The combined revenue loss attributed to fare evasionfor both modes of transportation in FY2019 was a conservative $40M.
Fare evasion laws vary across jurisdictions with the act carrying both civil andcriminal penalties in the state of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
54 of 106
Fare evasion is no longer considered a criminal offense in the District ofColumbia. Metro Transit Police enforce applicable laws and provide training tobus operators to de-escalate fare-related conflicts.
Metro measures fare evasion through several means including automatic andmanual passenger counts, electronic gate sensors and fine issuances.Technology on Metrobus and Metrorail will enable better measurement andreporting of fare evasion. To date, the fare evasion project has deployed 11 electronic gate sensors atGallery Place Metro Station. In addition, to improve customer service andprevent fare evasion, the design of upgraded faregates is underway to replace30-year-old faregates systemwide.
Next Steps:
Management will provide quarterly reports to the Board on fare evasion,revenue impacts and enforcement initiatives.
FUNDING IMPACT:
This is an information item with no immediate impact on funding. Project Manager: Dennis Anosike
ProjectDepartment/Office: CFO/OMBS
TIMELINE:
Previous Actions July 2019 – Fare evasion quarterly update, Q1 of FY2020
Anticipated actionsafter presentation
Continue quarterly reports to the Board on fareenforcement efforts, fare evasion and revenue impacts
55 of 106
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY1
Fare Evasion Update
Finance and Capital CommitteeNovember 7, 2019
56 of 106
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY2
Fare Evasion Reduced Revenue by $40M in FY2019
Fare Evasion by Mode
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1
Fare Evasion Incidents
Metrobus Metrorail
In thousands
FY2
01
8
FY2
02
0
FY2
01
9
1. Eliminating fare evasion on Metrobus would increase Metrobus farebox recovery from 23% to 27%
Metrorail, $11
Metrobus, $29
Revenue Loss In millions
1
57 of 106
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY3
Manual and automated counts show Metrobus fare evasion is increasing while ridership is falling
Growing Problem on Metrobus
Fare Evasion on Metrobus
123 114
101 92
4 7 10 15
-
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019In millions
Paid Bus Trips & Fare Evasion Incident Actuals
Paid Ridership (Farebox) Recorded Evasion (Farebox)58 of 106
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY4
Occurrence By Jurisdiction
Metrobus Fare Evasion Rates by Jurisdiction
18%
10%
2%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
Q1 FY2019
13%
21%
15%
2%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
Q1 FY2020
16%
DC MD VA DC MD VA
59 of 106
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY5
Metrobus Routes with the Highest Fare Evasion Counts
Bus Fare Evasion by Route
• Top 10 routes for fare evasion represent 38% of Metrobus fare evasion
• Top 10 routes represent 3.4% of Metrobus routes but 11.5% of Metrobus ridership
• Nine of the 10 routes are located in the District of Columbia -
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
900,000
W4 92 X2 70 P12 B2 A8 90 A2 V2
Nu
mb
er
of
Inc
ide
nts
FY2019 Fare Evasion Counts by Route
DC DCMD
60 of 106
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY6
▪ Effective May 3, 2019
• Civil
• <$50 Fine
• No consequences or further
proceedings for failure to
pay or attend hearing
▪ Montgomery County
• Civil and Criminal
• 1st - $50 if paid; up to 10 days jail if not paid
• 2nd & subsequent - $75 if paid; up to 10 days jail if not paid
▪ Prince George’s County
• Criminal
• 1st - $10 - $50
• 2nd & subsequent - $50 -$100 if paid; up to 10 days jail if not paid
▪ City of Alexandria
• Civil
• $100
▪ Arlington County
• Civil and Criminal
• 1st - $10 - $50
• 2nd & subsequent - $50 -$100 and/or up to 10 days jail
▪ Fairfax County
• Criminal
• $100 Fine
District of
Columbia
State of
Maryland
Commonwealth of
Virginia
Fare Evasion Laws are different across Jurisdictions
Fare Evasion Laws
61 of 106
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY7
District of Columbia Infractions
Enforcement Policies
InfractionCivil or
CriminalFine
Consequence for refusal
to provide true name and
address
Enforcement
Possession of Marijuana Civil $25 $100 upon conviction OAH
Jaywalking Civil $20 $100-$250 upon conviction BTA
Fare Evasion Civil ≤$50 No OAH
OAH – Office of Administrative Hearings
BTA – Bureau of Traffic Adjudication62 of 106
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY8
▪ Atlanta, GA▪ 12-hour expulsion from system
▪ 14/30/60-day system suspension
▪ Suspension violations
• Additional 30-day suspension
• Arrest for criminal trespass
▪ Philadelphia, PA▪ Issue $25 citation
▪ Ban from system after 4 citations
▪ Arrest for misdemeanor trespass
after 5 citations
▪ New York City, NY
▪ Civil – $100 fine
▪ Criminal – penalties vary
▪ San Francisco, CA▪ Civilian inspectors
▪ Civil – $55 fine/juveniles - $75 fine/adults
▪ Criminal – ≤ $250
Other Transit Agencies
Enforcement Policies (Cont.)
▪ Massachusetts Bay, MA
▪ Civil – ≤ $600
63 of 106
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY9
Measuring Fare Evasion
▪Electronic gate sensors
• 13 mini-mezzanine areas by January 2020
• Remainder installed by June 2020
▪Next Steps
• Data analysis per location
• Dashboard development by May 2020
• Targeted allocation based on MTPD
recommendation
Improving Fare Evasion Prevention
64 of 106
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY10
▪ Maintain safety and security commitment to passengers and employees
• Increased policing on station platforms and trains
• Strategic deployment of after school details and High Intensity Targeted
Enforcement (HITE)
▪ Continue de-escalation training for bus operators
▪ Started Station Manager Assault Reduction Training (SMART)
Transit Policing
Improving Fare Evasion Prevention
65 of 106