Link Transit to Offer Fare Free Service Until At Least June of 2022

The Link Transit Board of Directors authorized a move to continue their fare-free pilot program through at least June of 2022.

Communications Coordinator Eric West said fares only amount to roughly $650,000 in a normal year.

"While that's not an insignificant amount of money in proportion of our overall budget, it's only a few percent. So it's not critical to our operation." explained West, "Not collecting fares doesn't mean we're going to have to cut service. It doesn't mean we're going to have to ask for additional tax revenue."

With ridership dropping since the pandemic and an upcoming expansion of service, it's Link's hope that the move will at least build their ridership back up. The pilot program could also be extended beyond June of 2022, possibly becoming permanent.