For a large regional bus company, we performed a series of fare payment system related audits to support a number of management initiatives and special projects. In response to a perception that fare abuse is an issue on certain bus routes, we conducted systemwide measurements to estimate the rate of onboard fare evasion with a group of traffic surveyors. To ensure the systemwide rates are correct for revenue loss estimation purposes, we used a stratified sample to ensure proper geographic and temporal coverage. In conjunction with a bus rapid transit line launch featuring offboard fare payment system, we performed before and after studies of unpaid fares, to understand how the changes in fare collection mechanism has affected the rates. To support financial estimates, we designed a study to measure the dollar amounts paid by passengers who paid a partial fare using nearly exhausted farecards or insufficient cash fares. To address an allegation that limited-mobility users were not paying the correct fares, we designed a study specifically to observe wheelchair boardings, which was difficult because it is a relatively rare event widely distributed in time and space. We also designed a study using AFC system data to determine the frequency at which buses were sent from depot with malfunctioning fareboxes, resulting in no fare being collected for that trip. Following the launch of a proof-of-payment system on a bus rapid transit line, we designed a study to measure the effectiveness of the strategies utilized by onboard fare inspection team to ticket nonpaying riders, and provided recommendations on how the fare inspection teams could modify their work schedules and inspection locations to improve both capture rate and rider perception. We also set up a routine process that allowed the bus company to produce a weekly report of rolling average rates of systemwide fare evasion for monitoring by operations management.
