Madison’s middle school to high school students are getting free bus transportation.
That’s thanks to the return of a program from the City of Madison and the Madison Metro School Transit, which seeks to support youth who are traveling to their summer jobs, internships, or other summertime activities.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway outlined the need for workable transportation for students.
“It’s an investment in our young people. Preparing them today with a vital community readiness skills and giving them access to opportunity and to independence and it’s an investment in our future. Building our economy, our transit system, and our community” said Mayor Rhodes-Conway.
It’s the third year that this program has run. And the number of students participating in the program has grown each year, along with the number of rides.
“MMSD students took almost 38,000 rides in 2021 and in 2022 that increased to over 40,000 metro rides by MMSD students in just one summer” said Mayor Rhodes-Conway.
The free bus passes are set to go to more than 7,000 middle and high school students this summer.
According to a list of fares posted on Metro Transit’s website, a normal youth bus ride costs a dollar and 25 cents. A summer youth bus pass, for those ages five through seventeen or still in high school, typically costs $35.00.
Angie Hicks is the principal of the James C. Wright Middle School. She highlighted the eco-friendly nature of the program.
“As a school district we talk a lot about environment sustainability and we know that being environmental stewards is important to our scholars. We are grateful to the city that they are giving them this opportunity to help bring their values to life” said Dr. Hicks.
Students will receive their bus passes in May. They can pick up their passes in their school’s student office. If that’s not possible, the passes will also be available at summer semester sites or the Metro Transit office on East Washington.
(Image courtesy: WORT Flickr)
