The Regional Transportation District’s Zero Fare for Better Air promotion lasted twice as long this year as it did in 2022, and, as a result, the number of free rides provided rose.
Ridership grew by 1.1 million passenger boardings, a 10% increase over last year’s program, which only lasted one month. The more than 6 million passengers during July and August represented the largest number of RTD customers since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted commuter habits, RTD reported in a news release.
RTD hopes the people who traveled on free public transportation were satisfied with the experience and continue to use the buses and commuter and light rail trains.
“RTD was pleased to welcome many new and returning customers to its system in July and August,” RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson said in the news release. “The agency and its partners worked together to encourage people in the Denver metro area to explore new commuting habits. As RTD looks ahead to the future, the agency is focused on providing value over volume to ensure the region’s mobility needs are met.”
The early data on this year’s Zero Fare promotion does not measure passenger retention. And the agency has yet to produce data to show whether the increased ridership reduces ozone pollution by taking more cars off the roads. Exhaust from the millions of cars and trucks on Colorado’s roads is the largest source of ozone pollution in the state.
RTD is working with the Regional Air Quality Council this year on showing whether or not air quality improves during the promotion. A report on that is expected in November, the news release said.
Get more Colorado news by signing up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter.
