Equity Analysis on Transit Fare Legislation
With the Albuquerque City Council's consideration of O-22-47, an ordinance that could potentially change ABQ Ride's fare structure, the Transit Department was required per Federal Transit Administration rules to conduct an equity analysis. The equity analysis was focused on assessing whether the proposed ordinance would potentially create disparate impacts for minority riders or disproportionate burdens for low-income riders. It should be noted that this focused analysis is not intended as an assessment of any overall benefits or problems with the proposed ordinance.
The analysis finds that there would NOT be a disparate impact on minority riders. On the other hand, the analysis finds that there could be a disproportionate burden on low-income riders, but the proposal includes sufficient steps to avoid, minimize and mitigate that burden. According to the analysis, the ordinance can be equitable if:
- It makes the passes long-term, free, and available with minimal personal information
- It makes passes available through various outlets including on-line; this distribution is similar to the current method for sales of reduced-price passes but eliminates the need for any cash payment by riders or social service agencies;
- It preserves the current fare structure’s $2 day pass for anyone who does not have a free pass rather than the initial proposal to charge $1 every time a rider boards a bus.
These steps meet FTA’s Title VI instructions to avoid, minimize and mitigate the potential disproportionate burden on low-income riders.