Transit fares and ridership discussed
At a glance
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Commission members discussed whether Columbia should bring back bus fares and agreed no recommendation should be made until service returns to baseline. Staff said reinstating fares could cost about $300,000 for fare boxes, take at least a year to install, and may reduce ridership by 3%.
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What this means
The commission focused on whether fare-free bus service should continue or whether Columbia should start charging again. Members said any fare decision should wait until transit service is back to baseline levels and until more information is available from the Olsson study. They also heard that current ridership counts may be about 80% inaccurate because the passenger counting system is not working properly. The commission plans to keep discussing fares at the November meeting and may bring a recommendation to City Council later.
Key decisions
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- Approved the agenda
- Approved the September 16 meeting minutes
- Agreed to revisit the fares discussion after service returns to baseline
- Plan to continue bus stop evaluation review at a future meeting
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Meeting information
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Public Transit Advisory Commission
Agenda
- CALL TO ORDER
- INTRODUCTIONS
- APPROVAL OF AGENDA
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES
- September 16 Minutes
- City Council & Other Commission Updates: Vision Zero, Disability, Bike/Ped, CATSO
- OLD BUSINESS
- Bus Stop Evaluation Matrix
- NEW BUSINESS
- Fares Discussion
- RIDERSHIP
- September Ridership
- GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF
- Zoom Link
- NEXT MEETING DATE - 11/18/25
- ADJOURNMENT
- Members of the public may attend any open meeting. For requests for accommodations related to disability, please call 573.874.CITY (2489) or email CITY@CoMo.gov. In order to assist staff in making the appropriate arrangements for your accommodation, please make your request as far in advance of the posted meeting date as possible.
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