Fare System Assessment and Strategic Roadmap
Date Created:
July 2025
Budget:
$49,545
Lane Transit District is conducting a Fare System Assessment and Strategic Roadmap to evaluate how the current fare system is working and identify a transparent, practical path for future improvements. The project will review existing fare policies and technologies, explore emerging trends and peer agency approaches, and engage key stakeholders to define desired outcomes and functional needs. Findings will be used to develop a phased roadmap that outlines options, trade-offs, and next steps for modernizing the fare system in a way that supports accessibility, equity, and long-term flexibility. This effort does not recommend a specific fare collection system or change fares, but will inform future decisions about how riders pay for transit.
What will this project do?
LTD is looking at how we currently collect fares and how we can make it better in the future. As technology changes, we want to make sure paying for your ride is easy, accessible, and ready for the years to come. This project will create a clear plan for our future fare systems and investments.
Budget
The total project budget is $49,545
Project funding supports:
- Technical analysis of the current fare system
- Market research and peer agency review
- Stakeholder engagement and coordination
- Development of a phased fare system roadmap and final report
Outcomes & Community Impact
Through this project, LTD aims to:
- Improve rider experience by identifying opportunities for simpler, more flexible fare payment options
- Support equitable access to transit by evaluating how fare policies and technologies can best serve diverse rider needs
- Prepare the agency for future integrated fare technologies, and regional integration opportunities
- Provide a clear, staged plan for fare system improvements that balance cost, complexity, and benefit
- While this project does not change fares, it lays the groundwork for future decisions that may affect how riders pay for transit.
What We Heard
This project builds on ongoing conversations about fare payment and customer experience, including:
- The need for convenient and reliable payment options
- Interest in emerging technologies such as fare capping and account-based systems
- Opportunities to better align fare systems with regional partners and institutions
- Stakeholder input gathered during the project will be summarized and shared as part of the final report.
Status Updates
Current Status: Final report and roadmap delivery
Next Step: Board Approval
This page will be updated as key milestones are reached.
Next Steps
LTD will use what we learned in this project to engage further with our riders and community to develop a scope of work for the next evolution of our fare payment system.
The Fare Roadmap content reflects high level discussions with internal LTD teams and community partners, aiming to bring a shared vision for the system that meets the needs of diverse user groups, aligns with agency priorities and leverages market opportunities.
While broad public engagement was not part of this process, LTD is committed to meaningful community input before proceeding with a formal procurement. Fare system priorities, including questions of payment access, equity, affordability, and the needs of rural and paratransit customers will be integrated into LTD’s upcoming Long Range Mobility Plan (LRMP) outreach process, ensuring fare-related topics reach a broad cross-section of current riders, non-riders, and community members.
In LTD expects to complete the broader community engagement to integrate into a detailed scope of work that considers our system today, and into the future.
- July 2025: Project initiation
- August: Stakeholder engagement
- September 2025: Current system and market assessment
- October 2025: Fare system objectives and functional needs
- November 2025: Options analysis and organizational readiness
- February 2026: Final report and roadmap delivery
Related Documents & Board Actions
March 2026 Board of Directors Presentation and Discussion
Dave Roth Director of Mobility Planning and Policy
Phone: 541-682-6116
Email: Dave.Roth@LTD.org
