Pulaski Technical College and Rock Region Metro have partnered to offer the school's students, faculty and staff a fare-free universal transit pass for 2016.
On Tuesday, the transit agency's board of directors approved the launch of the pilot program, which will provide pass holders with unlimited bus and streetcar rides for a year, beginning at the start of the school's spring term on Jan. 19. The school has an enrollment of about 7,700.
"The pass lets the Pulaski Tech community get the most value out of our transit system," said Jarod Varner, Rock Region Metro executive director.
The college will supply students, faculty and staff with related special identification. Pass holders will then be able to show those specially marked IDs to Rock Region Metro bus drivers and streetcar operators to use the system free of charge during all system operating hours and on all routes.
The pilot program replaces a corporate pass program Pulaski Tech used. Under that program, discounted monthly bus passes were made available to students and employees for $30 per month. The fee for a regular monthly pass is $36.
The school will now pay one monthly flat fee to the transit agency in exchange for the ability for all students, faculty and staff to have unlimited use of the system.
"Transportation can be the difference in whether our students have access to higher education, so we are happy to partner with Rock Region Metro to make that access even more attainable by removing the fee barrier for our pass holders," Margaret Ellibee, the president of Pulaski Tech, said in a statement.
Varner said his agency will be able to track how many of the school's students and employees use the bus system and even where they board.
"If it proves successful in this pilot program year, we hope to partner with other area academic institutions and large employers to offer their students and employees an affordable, safe way to get to and from campus," he said.
Metro on 11/18/2015