Support AB 610: Funding for Fare-Free Student Transit Passes for All Public School Students in California

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• Write To Governor Gavin Newsom

• Write To Sen. Monique Limón

• Write To Assemb. Greg Wallis

Your Letter

I write in support of Assembly Bill 610 (Holden) and $94 Million in the 2023 California Budget to fund a groundbreaking statewide student transit pass program so that every single California public school student–from kindergarten to community college to graduate school–can easily and freely access our public transit systems. Student transit pass programs have multiple co-benefits, making this an effective investment during a time of fiscal austerity. This is based on peer-reviewed research conducted by University of California researchers that provide academically rigorous research that found fare-free student transit programs are effective at improving educational outcomes, increasing the recruitment and retention of students, increasing ridership, decreasing VMT, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Transit agencies across California have partnered for over a decade to provide “insurance-like” transit discount programs because they work for students at K-12 institutions, community colleges, and our State’s universities. However, these programs are limited in scope and scale. During the pandemic, transit agencies, including Los Angeles Metro and SANDAG, used American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding for their robust and successful pilot programs. However, these successful programs will run out of funding in 2023 and need a sustainable source of funding. You have the opportunity to build on these successful programs by creating a comprehensive, statewide program that provides an immediate and tangible benefit to struggling students–from low-income elementary school children to UC Academic Workers. When you give a pass to a student, they ride almost immediately; the Youth Opportunity Pass pilot in San Diego saw an increase of 92% in overall youth ridership with 188% increase in average weekend ridership. This is because more than half of households in the U.S. who are experiencing poverty are also experiencing transportation insecurity, and studies show that discounted fare programs for low-income individuals can alleviate poverty, increase social mobility, and improve health by increasing trips, particularly to health care and social services. Finally, these programs result in real educational gains that could help struggling students post-pandemic. In the first year of an Alameda County student pass pilot program, 14% of students missed fewer days of school than they did during the prior year, and involvement in non-school-based afterschool activities and after-school jobs increased dramatically (by 77% and 238% respectively) for student participants. And at Rio Hondo College in Whittier, a pilot program resulted in community college graduation rates increasing by 27% higher for students who receive free transit passes. AB 610 will "water two plants with one hose" by creating a statewide program that has been proven to increase recruitment and retention for community colleges and quickly restore transit ridership at a time when these public institutions are struggling with enrollment and ridership issues. In addition, this program is a viable strategy to reduce statewide VMT at a time when California is not on track to achieve its goals. I ask that you prioritize $94 Million in the California budget and support AB 610 for fare-free student transit passes to make public transit a truly public good for millions of California. Thank you,