Council liaison says JTA is cutting fares: fixed routes to $1, paratransit to $1, and Navi free

Rahman Johnson, the city council liaison to JTA, told the Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee that JTA has substantially reduced rider costs and scheduled public input meetings.

Johnson said fixed‑route bus fares were lowered from $1.75 to $1.00 — "a 43% reduction" — and that paratransit fares dropped from $2 to $1. He also said the Navi neighborhood on‑demand service, which had an initial cost, is now complimentary. Johnson listed public input meetings on Jan. 8, Jan. 13, Jan. 14 and Jan. 15 and directed residents to jtafla.com for details.

Several council members said they hoped to secure a JTA presentation before February because members had received constituent concerns about potential paratransit service changes and because JTA's recent budgeting showed large quarter‑to‑quarter variances that several members said they wanted explained.

Why it matters: deep fare reductions may increase ridership and reduce transportation costs for riders, particularly those who rely on fixed route and paratransit services. Council members signaled interest in an earlier presentation from JTA to address budget implications and service changes.

Next steps: Rahman Johnson will work with JTA to try to bring the agency before the committee sooner than February; finance committee consideration of JTA's budget projections was expected the same day.