By Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P] / Bay City News
Public transportation agency SamTrans, in partnership with the San Mateo County Office of Education, has launched a six-month pilot program to offer free rides to low-income students.
That was reported this week by SamTrans, which reported that the passes will be given to school districts to distribute to qualified students for free rides on all the company's bus routes through June 2022. At that time, a decision will be made on whether to continue the program in the next school year.
All students classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged by the California Department of Education are eligible for SamTrans' new Unlimited Youth Pass, the release said.
This group includes students eligible for the free or reduced-price meals program, homeless students, foster youth, migrant students, or students whose parents did not graduate from high school.
Districts will administer an effectiveness survey to students and parents around March 2022.
The program aims to reduce transportation costs for low-income families, attract new and more frequent riders, as well as provide information on the potential operational impacts of providing free fares to a subset of young riders.
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