Collin County Transit Program to view flat fare fares

A new fare structure has been proposed for Collin County Transit, a convenience-based public transit program serving McKinney, Prosper, Celina and other Collin County cities.

A public hearing was held on the fee change at an Aug. 20 McKinney City Council meeting, but no comments were submitted.

SPECIFICITIES

Program will move from the current fare structure, which sets a fixed price per ride. Trips within service area cities cost $3.15 per trip while trips outside the service area cost $5.25 per trip.

The new dynamic structure uses a minimum base fare with additional fare costs that depend on the distance traveled, city ​​state documents. Trips that are 7 miles or less will cost $5, while trips over 7 miles long will cost $5 plus $0.75 for each additional mile. The maximum cost will be capped at $17, which equates to a 23-mile trip, Transit Program Administrator Akia Pichon said at the Aug. 20 meeting.

The program began using a flat fare model in January 2022, according to a presentation at a September 2023 meeting of the McKinney Urban Transit District board.

Other cost-saving measures considered but not chosen included limiting trip distance, limiting the total number of trips per month for each rider and limiting the number of participants in the program, according to city documents. The fee change was the result of increased operational costs and demand for the program, city ​​state documents.

“The city was the recipient of a large amount of federal money to help fund this program, and it's our goal on the council to support it for people who need it to get around,” said McKinney City Council member Patrick Cloutier. “It's the only public transport we have and this fare increase makes it more sustainable for us in the future.”

City staff are also considering other cost-saving measures, such as a mandated rider cancellation and recertification policy, Pichon said in a May 7 McKinney Urban Transit District board meeting.

context

The program, administered by Dallas Area Rapid Transit, provides on-demand transportation services to seniors, residents with disabilities and low-income residents in select Collin County cities. According to program websiteParticipating cities include:

• Celina
• Lowry Pass
• McKinney
• Melissa
• Princeton
• Advance

The service fee policy was evaluated by the McKinney Urban Transit District board in 2023, Pichon said. The analysis took into account the program's user travel behavior including factors such as distance and frequency of travel, she said. In 2023, the average commute distance was 7.2 miles, according to the presentation.

The study resulted in the proposed fee change, which was approved by the board in the fall of 2023, Pichon said.

“There was a tremendous amount of discussion and effort to get to this point,” McKinney Mayor George Fuller said of the fee structure change.

The program is available from 6am to 8pm on weekdays and from 8am to 8pm on weekends, and is closed on certain holidays. Participants use the GoPass mobile app to schedule the on-demand transit service, which can transport residents anywhere within Collin County, its website says. For more information on eligibility or to apply for the program, click here.

Looking ahead

Another public hearing on the fee change is scheduled for Oct. 21 in Prosper, Pichon said. The program's new fee structure is expected to take effect in January 2025, according to city ​​documents.

For more information on the Collin County Transit program, visit www.dart.org/guide/supporting-services/rider-assistance-program/collin-county-transit.