Funding the Future New fare products, features are key parts of upcoming changes Six of the 10 most popular DART fare products are some form of a daily pass, be it a two-hour, midday or all-day pass. To provide better value for our customers, DART plans to roll out new pass products with the November 2017 and August 2018 fare changes. Half-day pass at half-day price Whether it’s due to one’s shift, activity or the availability of other transportation, DART staff have observed that many customers ride the system during only one half of the day. For some of these riders, the Two-Hour Pass didn’t last long enough and a Day Pass was more than they needed. To replace both, DART is introducing a half-day fare. Passes purchased or activated in the morning, known as an A.M. Pass, will be valid for unlimited trips on all modes from the start of service until noon. Passes purchased or activated after 12 p.m. – a P.M. Pass – will be good from noon until midnight. Together, the two will cost the same as a day pass, but benefit those who may leave in the afternoon and return home the next morning. Pending DART Board approval, the agency intends to introduce the new A.M./P.M. passes this November and eliminate the Two-Hour and Day passes. In August 2018, the agency will reintroduce a Single Ride bus fare and eliminate the 7-Day Pass. The option of buying a Midday Pass, which allows unlimited travel between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, will remain, although the fare may change after August 2018. Never overpay with fare capping As part of the fare restructure, DART is introducing fare capping, which be available in the GoPass mobile app in May 2018, and with the GoPass Tap card in August/September 2018. The account management system will ensure that riders never overpay daily or monthly. Once a person purchases both an A.M. Pass and a P.M. Pass in the same day, the system won’t charge another fare to the GoPass app or GoPass Tap account for the remainder of the day. Similarly, once a customer purchases 32 half-day passes within a calendar month, the system will credit a monthly pass to the person’s GoPass app or GoPass Tap card account. Fare changes are part of financial plan All of DART’s revenue sources, including sales tax and passenger revenue, must grow to financially support the maintenance and expansion of the DART System. The agency’s 20-Year Financial Plan assumes an increase to the average fare about every five years. The DART Board is expected to vote on a new fare structure by August 2017. If approved, most of the fare changes would take effect the following year. Seniors going to and from medical appointments and other destinations will save money with the proposed half-day pass if they can schedule their travel to take place either entirely in the morning or in the afternoon. 8 Learn more: DART.org/FareRestructure 4
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