OnePass: A Vision for a Modern and Equitable Pass System

Abstract

The ways people are living and working in the Twin Cities are changing, which brings both uncertainty and opportunity to Metro Transit. This report explores how commuting patterns have changed during the Pandemic and beyond. Due largely to the Pandemic and the rise of telework, Metropass, the employer subsidized transit program has declined heavily. It is known, however, that transit is still needed and used by some of the region’s most vulnerable communities who are not currently served by the Metropass product. This report analyzes Metropass as a fare product in the context of the new normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations in this report cover equity, ridership, and finance/resilience themes and goals. These recommendations provide a baseline for how to modify the Metropass product to meet the changing needs of Twin Cities residents today. Our recommendation, OnePass, has the potential to incentivize greater transit ridership, making transit safer and providing increased accessibility for all.