Eco Pass Update
Since joining the RTD Board, I continue to hear from neighborhood groups and businesses regarding their concerns with RTD’s unlimited access pass programs (RTD’s terminology for pass programs like the Neighborhood Pass and the Eco Pass). The primary concern relates to administration challenges. At the same time, RTD staff continues to express its firm belief that the unlimited access passes are badly underpriced (despite my own contrary conviction).
In an effort to address both of these issues, I worked with the RTD Board and staff to instigate the formation of an Unlimited Access Pass Study Group. This Study Group will serve as the forum for a comprehensive analysis of the unlimited access pass programs. The work of the Study Group is expected to begin with a review of RTD’s proposed system for calculating the actual use of the unlimited access passes that are in circulation. Further dialogue will include an effort to achieve a common understanding of the goals for the unlimited access pass programs, an appropriate financing model and improved administration.
The memorandum that I have copied below provides more detail on the Study Group objectives and structure. I will continue to keep you posted as the work of the Study Group progresses following its first anticipated meeting in July. In the meantime, please continue to share with me your observations of RTD’s unlimited access pass programs.
Memorandum
To: John Tayer, RTD Director, District O From: Tony McCaulay, Assistant General Manager, Customer Services
Through: Clarence W. Marsella, General Manager
Date: February 12, 2007
Subject: Unlimited Access Pass Study Group
As we have discussed, RTD staff supports the creation of a study group that would examine all of RTD’s unlimited access pass programs, including Eco Pass, College Pass and Neighborhood Pass. The group would be assigned a number of tasks including: an examination of relevant data on each of the existing pass programs, developing a recommended mission statement for the unlimited access pass programs within the context of RTD’s overall fare policy and ridership goals and recommending possible changes to the pricing structure of these pass programs based on utilization data that is expected to become available through technological improvements in RTD’s fare data collection system. It will be important for the group to recommend a pricing policy that works for all parties and is sustainable over an extended period of time. The organization of this study group is especially timely given the fact that staff is working to finalize a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a fare card reader and database management system that would for the first time provide accurate utilization rates for our unlimited access pass programs. Among the first tasks of the working group would be to review the RFP to ensure that the system being procured would supply all data necessary to determine how well the pass programs fit within an equitable fare policy. Staff would recommend that the meetings of the working group be led by a professional facilitator. Possible members of the committee could be: RTD Board members, RTD staff, a business analyst (such as an actuary), and representatives from Auraria and CU Boulder, the City of Boulder, Boulder County, the Downtown Denver Partnership, the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee, the Transit Alliance, Transportation Solutions, the Southeast Business Partnership, the Stapleton Transportation Management Association and Neighborhood Pass members. The group would be established as quickly as possible to permit the RFP to proceed. It is anticipated that meetings would be held monthly for 1-2 hours for 6 to 9 months. It may also be necessary to have extended meetings towards the middle and end of the process. It is my understanding that you wish to bring this matter before the Operations/Customer Service/Marketing Committee meeting this week. Please let me know if you need any additional information from me.
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john@johntayer.org
Hi John,
I’ve got two comments on Eco Pass:
1) The process of getting pics taken and eco-pass card is pretty bad. I went for the first time this year and listened to a young woman get very emotional about how hard it was to get there in time after picking kids up from school, only to be turned away as the cut off point in a line that stretched far before her and far after her. I don’t remember the exact times we could go down to the Boulder Station to get our cards, but I do know it was difficult for Bob, who worked, and for parents who work and have kids in school. I also experienced a long wait time. The time structure, sorry to say, reminded me a bit of voting….I had to ask myself: “do they really want people to be able to do this?”
2)As far as the price being too low for eco pass, my own experience indicates that the eco pass may be giving RTD some unexpected donations. We paid $120 for a our first year’s pass for three people (I understand it goes up each year that we’re in the program). We’ve used the SKIP and the SKYride, for a total of about $58, in the first 5 months. Even if we do that much again before year end, we won’t use up all of our eco-pass fee.
Our usage may change during the summer months, or if Bob’s work slows down enough that he can afford the extra 35 minutes it takes to get to work by bus(total time by bus is 55min), but who knows. I think the research you mentioned regarding actual use of eco-passes is important to complete.
I said 2 comments, but here’s a 3rd….RTD should think about the sales potential/pitch for eco-pass. One of the reasons I will always spend 20-50 bucks on an annual pass for my son over the next few years is that he doesn’t drive, and I want him to have necessary transport if he gets stranded somewhere. Likewise, for the ease and convenience of being able to hop a bus anywhere, anytime, no change to count, and knowing that I’m supporting public transport, I can deal with a $5 to $10 donation each year in eco-pass fees I may choose not use.
Thanks for being such a good rep for us,
Ceal
Ceal:
Thanks for the comments!
I will definitely share your observations on the registration/picture-taking process with RTD staff and ask what they can do to avoid similar customer inconvenience in the future.
In general, along with addressing the pricing issues through the new Study Group (which is the major objection staff has to the various unlimited access passes, like the Eco Pass), I hope we can initiate significant improvements in administration of the pass programs. This includes such things as simplifying the cumbersome registration procedures for the neighborhood and business passes . . . as well as shrinking the picture-taking line at the Boulder Station.
Thanks again for your comments (and checking-out the new web site)! – John