Case Study: King County Metro measures fare-free transit’s health and well-being impact with PRR

King County Metro surveys nearly 1,900 riders over two years with PRR

King County Metro sought to understand if fare-free public transit could improve the health and well-being of people with low incomes, as limited data existed on the broader impacts of reduced fare programs. They hired vendor PRR, Inc. to conduct rigorous research to inform their transit policy decisions.

PRR, Inc. implemented a longitudinal, mixed-methods study within a randomized controlled trial framework. They surveyed nearly 1,900 participants over two years in five languages, achieving response rates over 80%. The high-quality data produced provided evidence that directly informed King County Metro's decisions on renewing and expanding its Fare Free Public Transit program, contributing to the national conversation on transit affordability.

King County Metro