Introduction
Public transport is a crucial system that facilitates the movement of people and light goods. Transportation is a significant process developed over the years to facilitate various human activities. Urban areas like cities have developed their transit systems to accommodate the daily movement of people from homes to work through various means, with buses and trains being the most common. The preference for mass transport systems in cities aims to address the common challenge of traffic jams and the need to facilitate the movement of people from low-income neighborhoods into different areas of work.
Public transport is not always free. Different payment strategies have been adopted to facilitate public transport, given the high cost of implementing and maintaining them (The Economist, 2019). The benefits of public transport are known to many city populations, especially those who rely on them. However, monetizing the public service raises various concerns that must be addressed before considering free-fare public transportation (FFPT). The adoption of free-fare public transportation in San Diego should be implemented to achieve sustainability, equity, and traffic goals in the city.
The Reasons for the Adoption of Free-Fare Public Transportation
The increase in population and accompanying issues in San Diego require the adoption of FFPT to help resolve emergent problems. San Diego is similar to most cities in America that have experienced population increases and changed demographics (Macro Trends, 2023). The coastal city has a large population of approximately 3.3 million residents who move to different places for social and economic reasons (World Population Review, 2023). The city also receives visitors who enjoy the beach, warm weather, and other regional attractions. These factors have made the public transport system critical infrastructure due to the number of people who depend on it daily.
Over the years, the number of people who rely on public transport has remained significantly high despite the increase in personal vehicles to facilitate their movement. Several other issues have emerged from public transport as it is mostly considered an amenity for low-income people, leading to inequality in its use. Also, the city experiences challenges from pollution due to high vehicle usage, the costs of traffic jams, and the need to become environmentally friendly.
The factors that make FFTP adoption essential include providing affordable public transit to low-income residents and students. Affordability is a crucial element in decision-making on several factors, like the means of transport. Populations are divided into socio-economic groups, which leads to differences in decision-making. It implies that the factors that each group considers in decision-making are different.
The choice of transportation is usually tied to the economic status of the user, whereby public transport is preferred by low-income earners, while a section of middle-income earners and the majority of high-income earners will prefer private vehicles. FFPT makes transit affordable by eliminating charges and helping 60% of metropolitan transit system users (MTS) and 30% of young users who rely on public transport (Metropolitan Transit System, 2019). Affordability is a critical element for a significant population and should be considered in government projects.
The Goals of the Adoption of Free-Fare Public Transportation
FFTP adoption aims to address the increasing number of vehicles in San Diego. The growing population in San Diego is characterized by many residents owning vehicles. Data indicates that the number of vehicles per household in the county is higher than the U.S. average at 1.96 (Covington, 2023). Statistics also show that 80% of commuters in the county drive alone to and from work (San Diego Forward, 2022). The data indicates growth in car ownership nationwide (Timmons, 2022). FFTP encourages commuters to opt for free transportation since they will save on costs other than the convenience of being in one’s car and the ease of movement.
Also, it will help adhere to California State Bill 743 (SB743), which requires cities to reduce pollution by automobiles. The law targets drivers by imposing fees on the miles traveled by vehicles annually. The state hopes that it will help deter residents from using private vehicles, reducing the number of vehicles on the road and the pollution they cause. FFPT aims to address the problem by attracting more commuters to public transportation or at least diversifying transportation and reducing personal vehicle usage.
Pollution is a global problem, and the huge vehicle emissions challenge San Diego. The implications of public transportation on the environment are significant in San Diego. The Climate Action Plan 2020 report indicates that on-road transportation accounted for the highest amount of greenhouse emissions in the county (The City of San Diego, 2020). 41% of greenhouse emissions emerge from passenger cars and trucks (California Air Resources Board, 2023).
Given that passenger vehicles emit 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, there is a significant need for San Diego to reduce the number of passenger vehicles on its roads. The price of carbon dioxide emission credits in California has risen in recent years, with the price reaching approximately $26/ton in 2022 (California Air Resources Board, 2023). Therefore, San Diego is obligated to look for solutions to address the leading cause of greenhouse gases in the region.
Methodology
The group conducted a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether adopting FFPT is feasible for San Diego. An uncertainty analysis was conducted on three parameters, discount rate, saving time due to using public transportation, and opportunity cost. A second uncertainty analysis was conducted using a students-only option, considering the costs and benefits of free public transportation. Ten-year projections were made to assess the impacts of FFPT on various factors.
Results
The cost-benefit analysis revealed that the county stands to gain some benefits from investing in free-fare public transportation. Based on the assessment, San Diego would benefit most from decreased carbon emissions. The decline will gradually depend on the number of people who shift from using cars and bikes and prefer public transportation. The intervention is also projected to increase the number of people using public transportation. The reduction conversion to monetary value from carbon dioxide emissions is determined to increase, and the city will see an increase in opportunity costs.
However, the investments that will be made toward achieving these goals are significant. Based on the projections, San Diego will make its most significant investment into FFPT in the first year of its implementation. The contributions towards the project will remain high for as long as public transportation is free or considered to be discounted. The analysis also shows that the city will continue to make large contributions to support discounts.
Solutions and Recommendations
Free-fare public transportation is a great concept for San Diego, but its complete implementation will depend on the county’s financial capacity. FFPT will solve several problems in the county, with the large use of personal vehicles being the most significant. The challenges emerging from the current state imply that the region experiences high pollution, traffic jams, and congestion (Twidale, 2023). FFPT can help to solve most of these challenges and provide residents with great benefits, including social equity and economic access.
Based on the analysis and projections, the costs incurred from adopting the project will be significantly high. Several solutions exist, including providing FFPT to specific groups, making it free for all, or shelving the idea. The policies aimed at its adoption should be informed by data and the benefits and costs that will be incurred.
Conclusion
The recommendation for FFPT is that it should be adopted gradually in San Diego only for students and mileage tax for car users. Since low-income earners and students are the largest populations that rely on public transportation, the city should adopt a system that facilitates their needs. Students are a group that requires special consideration regarding public transportation.
The analysis revealed that most of the universities are located around transit stops. It implies that students rely heavily on public transportation, making them suitable candidates for FFPT. The analysis also revealed that the greatest beneficiaries of the implementation of FFPT are students. The number of students in San Diego is large and they can benefit significantly from such a program.
The costs from discounts to the local government will be high but sustainable when proper measures are made to make public transportation a better alternative for all residents—the environmental sustainability, social equality, and costs that will be incurred support FFPT for the category. The recommendation introduces mileage tax for car users to reduce personal car usage and generate revenues to support the program. The tax will comply with California state law and will be a great incentive to reduce greenhouse emissions.
References
California Air Resources Board. (2023). Cap and Trade Program Data. California Air Resources Board. Web.
Covington, T. (2023). Average miles driven per year in the U.S. Web.
Macro Trends. (2023). San Diego metro area population 1950-2022. Macrotrends | The Long Term Perspective on Markets. Web.
Metropolitan Transit System. (2019). The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System A Study Of Its Economic Impact. MTS – San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Web.
The City of San Diego. (2020). Climate Action Plan. City of San Diego Official Website. Web.
The Economist. (2019). Free public transport in Estonia. Web.
Timmons, M. (2022). Car ownership statistics in the U.S. ValuePenguin. Web.
Twidale, S. (2023). Analyst EU carbon price forecasts edge higher but risks remain. Reuters. Web.
San Diego Forward. (2022). Regional Plan. SANDAG – SANDAG Home. Web.
World Population Review. (2023). San Diego County, California population 2023. 2023 World Population by Country (Live). Web.