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TransitCompleted

Free Petaluma Transit

Petaluma Transit made all of its bus routes free for every rider, with the program launching in June 2024. The City describes the program as funded by Measure U.1,3

In May 2026, the Transit Advisory Committee voted 5-1 to recommend that City Council apply for $136,894 in state Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) grant funding to continue the fare-free service.2

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5 recorded milestones

Complete project timeline

Each entry links the meeting and documents it comes from.

  1. Adopted as Council priority4

    The City Council included free transit in its Goals & Priorities workplan for FY 2023/24–2024/25.

  2. Transit Advisory Committee receives staff proposal5

    Staff presented a proposal to launch a fare-free Petaluma Transit program by the end of June 2024 covering all routes. Staff member Maria Arce covered goal alignment, implementation details, and next steps; committee members asked questions and provided feedback. The committee received the presentation with no vote taken.

    Transit Advisory Committee, Jan 11, 2024, item 2 →Boards & Commissions Report, p. 4 →

  3. Free transit launches3

    All Petaluma Transit bus routes became free for all riders. The Luma Go on-demand rideshare program also launched in Fall 2024.

  4. Presentation to Senior Advisory Committee6

    City transit specialist Maria Arce presented information about the fare-free transit program, LumaGo, and community accessibility options including travel training to the Senior Advisory Committee; no vote was recorded.

    Senior Advisory Committee, Aug 8, 2024, item 2 →

  5. Transit Advisory Committee recommends LCTOP grant application2

    The Transit Advisory Committee voted 5-1 to recommend that City Council adopt a resolution authorizing submission of an application to the California Department of Transportation for $136,894 in Low Carbon Transit Operations Program funding to continue the fare-free program.

    Transit Advisory Committee, May 19, 2026, item 3 →2.0 Attachment 1 - Resolution, p. 1 →

Money

  • The City describes the program as funded by Measure U, and the Transit Advisory Committee has recommended applying for an additional $136,894 in state LCTOP grant funding through the California Department of Transportation.1,2

Not in the record yet

  • Did the City Council adopt the resolution to apply for the $136,894 LCTOP grant?
  • Was the LCTOP grant application submitted, and has it been awarded?
  • What is the total annual cost of operating the fare-free program?
  • How long is Measure U funding expected to sustain the program?
  • What ridership changes have occurred since fares were eliminated?

Sources

  1. The City's description of the project
  2. Transit Advisory Committee, May 19, 2026, item 3: Recommend to City Council to Adopt Resolution Authorizing the Submission of an Application for the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program and the Execution of…
    Meeting → 2.0 Attachment 1 - Resolution, p. 1 →
  3. City project record: Free transit launches
  4. City project record: Adopted as Council priority
  5. Transit Advisory Committee, Jan 11, 2024, item 2: Discussion of Fare­Free Transit Program
    Meeting → Boards & Commissions Report, p. 4 →
  6. Senior Advisory Committee, Aug 8, 2024, item 2: Maria Arce, MA, Transit Specialist, Marketing & Outreach, City of Petaluma | Public Works and Utilities will present information that will cover fare free,…
    Meeting →

This page is written with AI from the City's meeting records, staff reports, minutes and adopted budgets, and reviewed before it's published. Every statement links to its source. Last updated Nov 3, 2026. Report a problem.