Xpress Fare Policy Changes

Revised Aug. 12, 2010 

The funds from Metro Atlanta counties that have been used to support the Xpress regional commuter service will run out in the spring of 2011. Without increased revenues and reduced expenses, the Xpress service will have to terminate all service as early as April 2011.

In order to permit the Xpress service to continue operation until June 2011, when the fiscal year 2012 state budget can be considered, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) management proposed a group of expense reductions and revenue enhancements.   
 
Three fare policy changes were recommended by GRTA management in order to achieve enough revenue to operate through June 30, 2011 including: 

• Increase one-way cash fares for eight GRTA-operated Xpress routes, or portions of routes, including routes 400, part of 423, 425, 430, part of 440, 450, 462 and part of 490;
• End acceptance of free transfers from MARTA and other transit services; and,
• Reduce the rate of discount on the pre-sold fare media and restructure the pass and multiple fare pass system for all routes, including a new monthly pass of $100 or $125 depending on the route.   

In addition, there will be no discount for customers riding a reverse commute (outbound from Atlanta in the morning and inbound to Atlanta in the afternoon). Reverse commute customers will be charged a full fare.  

The changes are effective Monday, Oct. 4, 2010 on routes operated and managed by GRTA.

Zoned Fares for GRTA-operated Xpress Routes

The proposed fare structure is based on the distance traveled by Xpress coaches. Coaches traveling from distances farther out from Downtown and Midtown Atlanta cost more to operate than those operating closer in. Customers on coaches traveling a farther distance would pay more under the GRTA “Blue Zone” fares. Customers traveling a shorter distance would pay less under the GRTA “Green Zone” fares. (Specific fares for the Green and Blue Zones are explained in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.)

Ending Free Transfers

Customers would no longer be able to board Xpress for free when transferring from another transit service, including MARTA bus or rail. Customers boarding from MARTA with a Breeze Card would need to tap to have cash value deducted from their card. 

Multi-Ride Ticket Changes

GRTA is also changing the type of fare products offered. Xpress would no longer offer a 20-Ride or 40-Ride fare pass. Instead, customers could purchase a 10-Ride pass. GRTA will continue to offer a 31-Day pass.

The following Frequently Asked Questions should help answer some of the questions and concerns raised about these changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Now? 

GRTA’s transit management team is recommending these changes based on the current financial constraints facing the Xpress system, its experience using the current fare products over the past six years and its need to improve the overall efficiency of the Xpress system.  GRTA has not changed its fares since the Xpress service began in June 2004, even though the past three years have seen severe fluctuations in fuel costs as well as growth in other costs.

Since its inception in 2004, the operation of the Xpress service has been funded through fares, federal grants, and a one-time contribution of $21.25 million in 2004 from 11 metro counties.   The county operating funds were provided to GRTA in return for a one-time state investment of approximately $260 million in county arterial road projects. 

The Xpress operating funds from the arterial road agreements with 11 counties will be exhausted by April 2011, after more than six years of operations. Because of an extreme drop in state revenues, the Governor’s Office and the Georgia General Assembly were not able to fund GRTA’s fiscal year 2011 request for $2.9 million in additional operating funds for the Xpress system.  In order to permit the Xpress service to continue until June 30, 2011, GRTA management has proposed a group of expense reductions and revenue enhancements.    

Why higher fares for longer routes? 

Many transit agencies across the country price their fares based on the distance traveled by the customer. Longer routes are more expensive to operate than shorter distance routes.  Riders on the longer distance routes receive a greater benefit based upon their distance traveled.  Longer distance riders save more in fuel and other automotive expenses as a result of their longer trip when compared to customers that ride shorter distance routes.  Consequently, GRTA management believes that a distance-based zone system is more equitable than the current flat fare for all GRTA operated Xpress routes.

What routes will cost more under the distance-based fares?

The following routes, or portion of a route, will fall under the Blue Zone. The Blue Zone fares are one-way $4, 10-Ride Pass $35, and 31-Day Pass $125. Blue Zone fares will be charged on these routes:

Route 400, Cumming to Downtown;
Route 423, East Conyers to Midtown;
Route 425, East Conyers to Downtown;
Route 430, McDonough to Downtown;
Route 440, Hampton to Downtown;
Route 450, Newnan to Downtown/Midtown;
Route 462, West Douglasville to Downtown and
Route 490, Canton to Downtown.

The following routes are a shorter distance from the park & ride lot or station to Atlanta. These routes will be Green Zone fares: One-way $3, 10-Ride $25, 31-Day $100. Green Zone fares will be charged on these routes:

Route 400, Cumming to North Springs Station;
Route 420, West Conyers to Downtown Atlanta;
Route 421, West Conyers to Midtown Atlanta;
Route 422, Panola Road to Downtown Atlanta;
Route 423, Panola Road to Midtown Atlanta;
Route 424, Stone Mountain to Downtown Atlanta;
Route 428, Panola Road to Perimeter Center;
Route 431, Stockbridge to Midtown Atlanta;
Route 432, Stockbridge to Downtown Atlanta
Route 440, Jonesboro to Downtown Atlanta;
Route 441, Jonesboro to Midtown Atlanta;
Route 442, Riverdale to Downtown Atlanta;
Route 455, Union City to Downtown Atlanta;
Route 460, Douglasville to Downtown Atlanta;
Route 461, Douglasville to Midtown Atlanta;
Route 490, Woodstock to Downtown Atlanta
Route 491, Woodstock to Midtown Atlanta;

Why end the free transfers?
 
Xpress service is currently focused on Downtown and Midtown Atlanta and most of the riders achieve their trip without a transfer.  According to the 2010 passenger survey, 22.4 percent of customers transfer onto MARTA to complete their trip to destinations beyond Downtown and Midtown. GRTA management proposes to end reciprocal free transfers so that the fare system in Atlanta for the GRTA-operated Xpress routes will work in a similar way to the fare system in Washington, DC, where customers pay full fares to each transit agency whose service they use.  The customer will pay each transit system when they board so that longer distance trips will be more expensive and more representative of their value to the customer. 

The end of the free transfer is also intended to end a chronic fare evasion problem.  With the advent of the Breeze Card, the free transfer has been automatic. However, many customers simply tap in and out of a MARTA Station to obtain the free transfer without riding MARTA. Although a lower fare is paid to MARTA, Xpress does not receive any revenue even though it is paying the travel cost. This activity is fare evasion and is a significant revenue loss for Xpress.   

Why change the pass system and discount?   

The change in the pass system will reduce the amount of discount for passes as well as reduce the amount of time that magnetic passes are in circulation.  The table below shows the prices and the percentage discount, current and proposed. 

The current 31-Day passes and multi-ride passes do not have an expiration date.  Unfortunately, the technology used for the passes can be de-magnetized when the card comes in close proximity to other magnetic devices such as a cell phone.  Consequently, there are times when the fare pass simply does not function resulting in customer service complaints.  In order to improve this problem, GRTA management propose to reduce the time that the media is in circulation by limiting the number of trips on the card as well as establishing an expiration date for the magnetic media. 

The number of trips remaining on the 10-Ride pass will be easier to read and a monthly pass will also be simpler to use. New fare passes effective Oct. 4, will carry an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2011.

I have several fare passes that are unused. What happens to my current fare media? 

There will be a transition period from October 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010 where users may continue to use their existing fare media.  GRTA will honor current fare passes through the end of the Beginning January 1, 2011, the current 31-Day, 20-Ride and 40-Ride fare passes will no longer be valid.  For the period September 20, 2010 through January 31, 2011, customers may exchange their old fare media that have unused trips for the same cash value in new fare media.  Refunds will NOT be given.

For example, a customer may exchange an unused 20-Ride pass that is worth $45 and pay an additional $5 to receive two new 10-Ride passes worth $50 (Green Zone), or pay an additional $25 and receive two new 10-Ride passes worth $70 (Blue Zone).
   
Will the changes affect routes operated by Cobb Community Transit (CCT) and Gwinnett County Transit (GCT)?

No. GRTA’s agreements with Cobb and Gwinnett Counties for the Xpress  operating funding permits Cobb and Gwinnett Counties to operate the services in their counties and to establish their own fares for Xpress routes starting in Cobb and Gwinnett Counties. 

Xpress Routes operated by CCT from Cobb County (470, 475, 477, 480 and 481) are not affected.

Xpress Routes operated by GCT from Gwinnett County (408, 410, 412, and 418) are not affected.

Has GRTA considered the impacts of the proposed fare policy change on minority and low income users? 

GRTA has completed an analysis of the impacts on minority and low income populations as required by Federal Transit Administration’s circular 4702.1A – Title VI and Title VI-Dependent Guidelines for Federal Transit Administration Recipients, dated May 13, 2007.  This analysis demonstrates that there is not a disproportionately high and adverse effect for minority and low-income riders resulting from the proposed fare policy change.   Please CLICK HERE to view the Evaluation of Title VI Impacts Related to the October 2010 Proposed Xpress Fare Increase - June 2010 is available on the XpressGa.com web site. 

Will the public have a chance to comment?

Yes. GRTA held two public meetings on these proposed changes. The first meeting was held on August 5, from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the GRTA offices (245 Peachtree Center Ave., Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30303. The second meeting was held on the same day from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the GRTA offices. Customers also commented on the proposed changes by e-mail at customerservice@XpressGa.com.
In addition, GRTA customer service staff held several informal meetings at work sites throughout July to receive comment from customers.

If I have a Green Zone pass but need to ride a Blue Zone route, or portion of a route, do I need to purchase a different pass?

No. You may take a take a route that travels to the Blue Zone that is a farther distance by using your Green Zone pass and paying an additional $1 into the farebox. Also, you may ride any route with a Blue Zone pass.

If you have additional questions, please contact GRTA Customer Service by e-mailing customerservice@XpressGa.com or calling 404-463-GRTA (-4782) between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.