Bloomington Transit will resume collecting $1 fares and checking passes July 1 after operating fare-free since March 2020.
BT general manager Lew May said Bloomington is one of the last cities in Indiana to resume fares. Most transit systems in the state only operated fare-free for a few months.
“We basically operated for 15 months with free fares and the idea behind it for us is we are trying to protect our drivers,” he said.
With free fares, passengers could board through the rear door and limit their contact with bus drivers.
Starting Thursday, transit users will resume front-door boarding, but bus operators will be separated by plexiglass. Under federal law, masks are required on public transit through September.
Additionally, BT’s downtown transit center and Grimes Lane facility will reopen to the public.
May said summer ridership is half of normal years. He anticipates more people using transit with Indiana University resuming in-person classes this fall but said it may take several years to return to normal.
“We’re not out of this yet, no doubt,” he said. “There is still some pain to be felt regarding the pandemic. It’s going to have long lasting effects on Bloomington Transit and all public transportation, but we’re encouraged to finally begin to see some light.”
