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Fare-free Transit on Early Voting Saturdays for 2024 Election
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DESCRIPTION: Authorization for one-time free fares on Saturday, October 19, 2024, and Saturday, October 26, 2024, in support of early voting. |
AGENDA NO: Click or tap here to enter text. |
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ACTION REQUEST: ☒ Approval ☐ Review Comment ☐ Information Only ☐ Other |
RECOMMENDATION:
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To authorize the Chief Executive Officer to extend free transportation to the two Saturdays of early voting for the November 2024 Open Primary/Presidential/Congressional Election held city-wide in Orleans Parish.
The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (NORTA) is committed to providing high-quality public transportation services for the benefit of the people and communities that it serves. As part of this commitment, the Board of Commissioners of the Regional Transit Authority has determined that the riding public is entitled to free transportation for all city-wide elections.
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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In June 2020, the RTA Board of Commissioners resolved to make transportation fare-free on days of City-Wide Elections in Orleans Parish. An NBC News poll conducted in September 2024 found that approximately half of registered voters surveyed plan to vote early.
Expanding free transportation for city-wide elections to two days of the early voting period will allow the RTA to deliver on its existing promise of free transportation to help the riding public get to their polling places on days that may be most useful to the riding public.
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DISCUSSION:
Extending the window for election-specific, fare-free transportation into the period of early voting will deliver on the promise made in existing NORTA policy that took effect with the June 23, 2020, board resolution. This change will provide a valuable public service for voters who need transportation to exercise their right to vote on days other than Election Day.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
On the equivalent days last year-the third and fourth Saturday in October-NORTA collected approximately $30,673.75 and $27,853.73 for bus, ferry, and streetcar service. Factoring for the relative changes in fare collection from 2023 to 2024, it is reasonable to assume that NORTA may forgo approximately $59,000 in total fare revenue by making the two Saturdays of early voting for the November 2024 Election Day fare-free on bus, ferry, and streetcar.
NEXT STEPS:
Upon approval, NORTA will forgo fare collection on the two Saturdays of early voting for the November 2024 election day on bus, ferry, and streetcar services.
NORTA staff will present a draft amendment to RTA Fare Policy (GEN11) concerning early voting for Board of Commissioners’ review at a later date.
ATTACHMENTS:
RTA Resolution for Fare-free Transit for Early Voting
Prepared By: Jack Duffy
Title: Manager, Fare Policy and Systems
Reviewed By: Gizelle Banks
Title: Chief Financial Officer
10/23/2024
Lona Edwards Hankins Date
Chief Executive Officer