Lang
6/29/23
The City of Iowa City has announced a starting date for its fare free transit pilot program.
According to a news release from the city, free rides on Iowa City Transit buses will begin on Tuesday, August 1st. Fare Free Iowa City is a two-year pilot program approved by the city council earlier this year. No transit passes or pocket change will be needed once the program begins. Transit officials say if you have a 31-day, 10-ride, single-ride, or 24-hour pass, you will want to use those up prior to August 1st.
Iowa City Transit also has some tips for first-time riders:
- Download the Transit app to plan your ride, get predicted arrival times, or get real-time updates on bus locations on your phone. Just type in your destination and the app will give you a few route options to get there.
- Review the City’s digital mapof all routes and stops.
- Visit icgov.org/busschedulesto learn about the city’s 13 different bus routes.
- Visit icareatransit.orgto explore the metro area transit system.
- Reach out to 319-356-5151 or ICTransit@iowa-city.orgfor trip-planning assistance.
The pilot program is aimed at studying the effects of making transit free across Iowa City with the goal of improving access to safe, affordable, reliable, and sustainable transportation.
City officials say the move also goes hand-in-hand with the city’s climate action goals of reducing carbon emissions by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, then achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. To achieve those goals, Iowa City Transit has a goal of doubling ridership and enabling a shift of 55% of vehicle trips to more sustainable modes of transportation such as transit.