Amir Johnson, a youth reporter on the Media Arts Center‘s after-school news crew, put together this report on an effort bring free city bus passes to City Heights students.
Mid-City CAN’s Improving Transportation in City Heights team began campaigning for the “youth opportunity passes” in 2011 after hearing from parents and students who said the cost of transit is a barrier to education.
Earlier this month, the San Diego Unified Board of Education voted to spend $150,000 on a pilot program that would make the passes available to some students at Hoover, Crawford, Lincoln and San Diego high schools. The program is contingent on the City Council approving an additional $200,000 for the program on May 22.
Mid-City CAN organizer Emily Serafy-Cox said the team is also looking for a permanent, and perhaps regional, funding solution. It’s circulating a petition that asks SANDAG to cover the cost of transit passes for students. Currently, SANDAG uses TransNet, a regional half-cent sales tax, to subsidize bus and trolley services for senior, disabled and youth riders. Student passes are $36 a month.
Serafy-Cox said the petition has nearly 1,000 signatures already. To add yours, contact her at eserafycox@midcitycan.org.
Text by Megan Burks