Using public transit might seem daunting for those who have never had to read a bus schedule, plan a route or make a transfer, but those skills are easy to develop with a little practice.
Helping young people gain confidence in navigating public transit is one goal of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) Youth Summer Blast Pass (YSBP), a new initiative providing youth ages 6-19 with unlimited rides during the months of June, July and August. The passes are offered free of charge thanks to a grant from the Greater Toledo Community Foundation (GTCF), and are valid for fixed route buses, TARTA Flex microtransit and TARPS paratransit.
“It’s about education, it’s about exposure. We want young people to understand what public transit is like and how to use it,” said Sam Melden, TARTA’s chief communications and external affairs officer.
“When you think about young people, whether it’s education, employment opportunities, recreation, seeing their friends, building relationships — transportation is a vital part of any young person’s experience in a community,” Melden added.
Removing barriers
Keith Burwell, GTCF president, said TARTA’s summer youth pass initiative provides transportation for those who need it most and helps youth take advantage of everything Northwest Ohio has to offer in the summer.
“Our young people face so many challenges on a daily basis,” Burwell said. “Removing the barrier of cost of transportation for those who don’t have access to a car is going to make a difference in what their options are for the summer months in terms of work or recreation.”
By mid-July, about 1,300 passes had been issued. The $50,000 grant from Greater Toledo Community Foundation covers the cost of the first 2,000 passes and TARTA’s board of directors voted to subsidize the cost of all additional summer passes beyond that number.
Passes are available through August 31. Youth can acquire a digital pass by downloading the EZFare app and filling out an online application on the TARTA website. The digital pass will be added to one’s EZFare account within 48 hours.
Physical passes are also available immediately by filling out an application in person at the TARTA transit hub at the intersection of Huron and Cherry in downtown Toledo.
“We’d like to make applying for the program as easy as possible,” said TARTA CEO Laura Koprowski. “With so many businesses in the area hiring summer help, we want to greatly expand options for those youth looking to participate in our workforce, build their skill sets and help their families.”
Point-to-point transportation
TARTA transit covers Maumee, Ottawa Hills, Rossford, Sylvania, Sylvania Township, Toledo, and Waterville. In addition to fixed-line bus routes, TARTA’s newer Flex microtransit service allows customers to book a point-to-point ride 30 to 60 minutes in advance. Melden compared it to other popular on-demand ride sharing services.
TARTA’s summer youth pass offers significant savings: Melden noted a basic, 30-day pass covering fixed routes only costs $45, and the Flex service that is included in the YSBP normally costs $3 per ride.
While the YSBP ends in August, Melden said it is anticipated that the program will return next summer in the form of either a free or significantly discounted pass.
“We’ve been excited to see the enthusiasm by young people who want to take advantage of the program, [and] parents who want their kids to get out there and learn how to use transit and get outside this summer,” said Melden.
