Hive Pass Pilot Program Moves from Study to Evaluation Phase

Monday, September 29, 2014

The Hive Pass pilot program, an innovative and experimental transit pass idea–the first of its kind in the country–will conclude the initial phase of study and sales on Tuesday, Sept. 30 and move into an analysis and evaluation period. The Hive Pass allowed Salt Lake City residents to purchase an annual transit pass at a significant discount.

Hive Passes will remain on sale through Tuesday at three locations in Salt Lake City. Visit http://www.ridewithhive.com for details. Residency verification is required.

Mayor Becker originally proposed this unique idea to UTA as part of his Administration’s ongoing work to mitigate air quality issues by addressing the largest contributor to dirty air–vehicle emissions. The program also sought to provide better access specifically for lower income residents by making a monthly payment plan available and by initiating a voucher program to invite broader participation from a variety of organizations. Some 100 passes were distributed to residents in need through the voucher program.

The pilot program was also geared to evaluate if, by making transit more equitable, accessible and convenient, rider habits could be positively impacted. According to the results of a survey administered to residents who purchased Hive passes, significant changes occurred. Survey results show that:

• Among those who responded to the survey, over 90 percent of Hive Pass users were satisfied with their purchase
• Among respondents, 44 percent said they now use transit every day and only 23 percent had used transit every day before the Hive Pass
• A similar increase was seen among residents who went from being infrequent users to regular users
• Thirty-seven percent said they began using public transportation because of the Hive Pass

A complete copy of the survey results can be found here: http://www.ridewithhive.com/survey.pdf

Per the terms of the agreement between the City and UTA, the two agencies will now enter into an evaluation period in which both entities will work together to process all of the information collected during the pilot, evaluate the pilot and make recommendations about how to apply what’s been learned from the experiment going forward. While regular Hive Passes will not be available during this evaluation, the voucher program will continue.