Following its reduction of service schedules, Capital Metro has further adjusted its operating model to combat the spread of COVID-19 and will now offer free fares for all transit rides throughout April.

Beginning April 1, riders will not have to pay Capital Metro operators or use the fare box, according to a March 28 news release from the transit agency.

Riders using MetroAccess—Capital Metro’s shared-ride service for residents with disabilities—will still be required to show a valid ID before boarding, according to the news release.

Capital Metro said in its release the change will help to maintain social distancing by increasing the pace of boarding its transit options and allowing boarding without person-to-person interaction.

“Our goal is to protect our operators and customers from close physical proximity to reduce the spread of the virus,” Capital Metro wrote in its news release.

The transit agency asks customers to only use its transit routes for essential trips, which include rides to health care jobs, grocery stores and critical services.


“The fare-free period is not meant to encourage any additional ridership,” Capital Metro wrote in its news release.