The Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) partnered with Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) to launch a new transportation assistance program in November 2022 called the Discounted Fares Pilot. This program offered free and reduced-price PRT rides for county residents ages 18 to 64 who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, along with their 6- to 17-year-old children. The fare discounts were allocated using a lottery. Each household in the pilot was randomly assigned to one of three groups, each with equal probability. One group received unlimited free PRT trips, a second group received a 50% discount on all PRT trips, and a third group received no discount. The fare discounts lasted 16 to 19 months for the free-fare and half-fare groups.
Key Takeaways
- The Pilot began with strong enrollment—over 14,000 people. A total of 9,544 adults and 4,928 children enrolled in the Pilot during the three-month open enrollment period. The majority of adult participants were female (72%) and Black (59%). Participants reported taking an average of ten PRT trips per week and spending an average of nearly $30 on public transportation per week at the time they enrolled in the Pilot.
- Free fares increased public transit ridership. On average, participants in the free-fare group took 1.48 more trips per week—a 43% increase—compared to those who paid regular price for their trips. In contrast, transit usage among participants who received half-priced fares was not statistically different from those who paid regular price for their trips.
- Fare discounts eased financial hardships. Near the end of the discount period—around 15 months into the pilot program—recipients of free fares reported spending $17.09 less per week on public transit compared to participants who paid full price for their transit usage. Participants paying half-priced fares reported spending $5.64 less per week on public transportation than participants who paid full price for each ride.
- Among participants who began the study without a job, free fares led to meaningful gains in employment and income. Over the first year and a half of the program, unemployed individuals who received free transit were 6% more likely to secure paid work than those who paid full price. Free-fare recipients also earned nearly $2,850 more—a 28% increase in earnings—compared to participants who covered their own transit costs. These findings suggest free public transit can increase financial stability and employment opportunities for low-income residents in Allegheny County.
- The short duration of the fare discounts may have limited their impact on other social and educational outcomes. The study found small and statistically insignificant impacts on healthcare utilization and criminal justice involvement (including appearances in court). Fare discounts had no detectable impact on school attendance among children who attend Pittsburgh Public Schools.
How DHS Uses This Information
DHS has used the results from this pilot to inform the design and implementation of a longer-term program called AlleghenyGo, which offers a 50% PRT discount for working-age county SNAP beneficiaries and their children. Click here to learn more about AlleghenyGo.
Past Reports and Resources
- Evaluation of First Year of Pilot Program – Interim Results (May 2024)
- Research and Evaluation Plan for Pilot Program (2022)
Questions or Feedback?
We welcome your questions and suggestions. To share feedback, you can reach us at DHSResearch@alleghenycounty.us. If you’d like to stay informed, consider signing up for our newsletter. To learn how to use DHS data in your research, please visit our Requesting Data page. Thank you for your time and interest. Your engagement helps shape and improve how we share data that matters.