Changes coming to GO Pass

County transit program will be restricted

First-time applicants for the free bus fare GO Pass in 2017 will encounter a few changes from last year, including this month’s start of a $5 application fee approved in the 2017 Milwaukee County budget.

Even though the GO Pass previously had been available to all county residents who are disabled or 65 years of age and older, first-time applicants will face some restrictions on eligibility beginning Tuesday, Milwaukee County Transit System Managing Director Dan Boehm said Friday.

As of Jan. 17, residents 65 years and older must be receiving Medicaid or FoodShare benefits to be eligible for the free-fare pass.

Residents under the age of 65 must receive Social Security income or have a veteran’s disability designation. They also must receive a Medicaid benefit.

The goal of the new fee and eligibility restrictions is to pare down the number of people using the popular GO Pass, Boehm said. The County Board approved the free transit pass in April 2015.

A 2017 budget amendment requires county transportation officials to establish a panel early this year composed of transit representatives and advocates for the disabled and elderly. The panel will be asked to recommend how the new application fee and eligibility restrictions will be imposed on existing GO Pass holders.

Residents who lose their GO Pass will be eligible for a half-fare program that charges $1.10 for each bus ride.

The panel’s recommendations must be approved by the County Board.

The next change coming is the collection of a $1 daily fare for GO Pass users that was approved in the budget. Both the County Board and County Executive Chris Abele agreed to the dollar-a-day fare as one way to reduce revenue losses caused by the free pass.

Boehm prefers to begin collecting the fare no later than midyear, he said. Transportation officials had estimated that continued use of the free pass would reduce fare revenue by $4 million in 2017 without the changes.

The $1 daily fare for GO Pass users is expected to yield $2.15 million in 2018, according to budget documents.