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AGENDA RECOMMENDATION |
Consent Calendar 6.E.
City Council Regular Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 03/10/2025
Agenda Item:
Motion to adjust transit fares, add processing fees, and adjust transfer tickets for transit services.
Recommendation/Action(s):
Motion to adjust transit fares, add processing fees, and adjust transfer tickets for transit services.
Summary:
The 2023 Title VI Plan - Evaluation of Service or Fare Change requires the city council's approval for major service changes or fare changes. Fare changes apply to all fare changes regardless of the amount of increase or decrease. The following fare changes are exempt:
Project Community Connect requests Mankato Transit System provide free rides for participants attending the event on April 22, 2025, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. This request is for Fixed Routes, Paratransit, and Flex Service. Staff anticipate minimal financial impact. South Central Minnesota Project Community Connect is a free community event to help reduce barriers and connect people to essential resources and services for a healthier, safer and more stable community. Over 70 service providers will be supporting the event at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. Riders can tell the driver they are attending the event and receive a free ride to and from the event or Cherry Street Bus Stop.
When first streamlined in 2022, Transit had 56 Charge Accounts with counties and agencies on behalf of their clients to fund and obtain transit passes using state and federal funding sources such as Minnesota Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) Waiver.
The fare was established via the Mankato Fee Schedule and did not account for administrative processing time, supplies, or postage to mail the transit passes to the individual. Service fees are not authorized under federal or state funding source guidelines. Today, with over 127 Charge Accounts and mailings of more than 150 per month, transit requests including service fees and postage in the charge account fare to cover the additional expenses.
The recommended increase of 10% does not change the fare price for customers who purchase at the 311 Customer Service Center or onboard a transit bus, only for those passes mailed to individual clients served by outside agencies using state and federal funding sources.
Propose Change – Change Transfer Ticket to a 60-minute ticket for all fixed routes
Currently free, a fixed-route transfer ticket allows passengers to continue their trip to a location from a different route and expires after 60 minutes. Transfer tickets are used by customers with tokens or cash and are electronically generated on the bus by the fare box and magnetically time-stamped, making them invalid after 60 minutes. Customers with frequent rider passes do not need a transfer ticket.
Staff recommend a 60-minute ticket for all routes to improve fare equity and support carbon reduction by encouraging public transit.
- Instances when all passengers ride free
- Temporary fare reductions that are mitigating measures for other actions
- Promotional fare reductions lasting less than six months
Project Community Connect requests Mankato Transit System provide free rides for participants attending the event on April 22, 2025, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. This request is for Fixed Routes, Paratransit, and Flex Service. Staff anticipate minimal financial impact. South Central Minnesota Project Community Connect is a free community event to help reduce barriers and connect people to essential resources and services for a healthier, safer and more stable community. Over 70 service providers will be supporting the event at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. Riders can tell the driver they are attending the event and receive a free ride to and from the event or Cherry Street Bus Stop.
Proposed Change – Increase Multiride Pass fare by 10% for Charge Accounts
When first streamlined in 2022, Transit had 56 Charge Accounts with counties and agencies on behalf of their clients to fund and obtain transit passes using state and federal funding sources such as Minnesota Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) Waiver.
The fare was established via the Mankato Fee Schedule and did not account for administrative processing time, supplies, or postage to mail the transit passes to the individual. Service fees are not authorized under federal or state funding source guidelines. Today, with over 127 Charge Accounts and mailings of more than 150 per month, transit requests including service fees and postage in the charge account fare to cover the additional expenses.
| Transit Service | Current Fare | Recommended Fare |
| Fixed Route 30-Day Pass | $40.00 | $44.00 |
| Mobility 11-Ride Pass | $30.00 | $33.00 |
| Flex 11 Ride Pass | $20.00 | $22.00 |
The recommended increase of 10% does not change the fare price for customers who purchase at the 311 Customer Service Center or onboard a transit bus, only for those passes mailed to individual clients served by outside agencies using state and federal funding sources.
Propose Change – Change Transfer Ticket to a 60-minute ticket for all fixed routes
Currently free, a fixed-route transfer ticket allows passengers to continue their trip to a location from a different route and expires after 60 minutes. Transfer tickets are used by customers with tokens or cash and are electronically generated on the bus by the fare box and magnetically time-stamped, making them invalid after 60 minutes. Customers with frequent rider passes do not need a transfer ticket.
- In the past four months, Connections Shelter has purchased $1,000.00 in tokens.
Staff recommend a 60-minute ticket for all routes to improve fare equity and support carbon reduction by encouraging public transit.