Feasibility and Impacts of Fare-Free Transit Evaluating Service for Advancing Sustainable, Equitable Mobility Solutions

The Tulare County Association of Governments, located in Visalia, California, is seeking a vendor to evaluate the feasibility and impacts of implementing fare-free local public transit. The agency wants to determine if fare-free transit can be established without harming the financial viability of local transit operations. This study aims to identify potential benefits to underserved communities and propose a concrete implementation strategy if the transition is deemed feasible. The scope of work requires the vendor to conduct fare collection, ridership, and formula funding analyses. The selected partner must also form an advisory committee, hold committee meetings, and conduct public outreach workshops in conjunction with stakeholders to represent a wide range of interests. Finally, the project involves drafting and finalizing a plan, which will undergo board review and approval. Eligible bidders must be onshore organizations based in the United States. The agency expects the performance of the work to occur offsite over a contract period of one year. While the agency has not disclosed a specific budget and is looking for proposals to define the cost, all clarifying questions must be submitted no later than June 26, 2026.