Keiki Ride Free
Adopting a statewide fare-free transit model.
Executive Summary
Public transit is more than a way to get from place to place—it’s a tool for growth, opportunity and community connection. Transit is particularly important for young people, the largest demographic of residents who do not drive.
When young people can move freely, they gain confidence, independence, and access to the full range of opportunities the islands offer. Transit connects keiki to after-school programs, internships, health care, recreation and friends, while also building lifelong habits that favor walking, biking and public transportation over driving alone.
To improve transit access, localities across the country are increasingly offering reduced and fare-free transit programs. This report examines the economic, health, and safety benefits of public transit; summarizes the current fare-free programs offered in Hawaiʻi; and discusses the costs and benefits of existing fare-free transit programs (local and national). A review of eight existing fare-free transit programs revealed several benefits of subsidizing transit fares. These include:
Significant increases in overall transit ridership;
Boosted local economic activity;
Reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions; and
Improved transit access for economically disadvantaged individuals and families.
This report also provides recommendations to improve transit access and affordability, with a particular focus on young riders. The main recommendation is to implement a statewide, year-round fare-free transit program for residents age 18 and under. Similar to the free transit for youth provided in Washington State, this report recommends that the state legislature establish a dedicated state funding mechanism to provide county transit agencies recurring reimbursements for foregone youth fare revenue.
To inform this policy report, our team relied on four key research methods: reviewing existing studies and reports on fare-free transit programs; examining the impacts of high transit fares on vulnerable community members; analyzing existing national and local fare-free and reduced-fare transit programs; and evaluating local transit ridership trends.