Pierce County teens not only get to ride for free but get to ride in style.
Pierce Transit has debuted colorful new bus wraps to promote free youth transit.
Last October, transit agencies across the region adopted a zero-fare-for-youth policy. Cards were issued during the 2021-2022 academic year and will continue to work through June 30, 2023.
The Free Youth Transit Pass initiative is designed to make transit more affordable for families with children, get young people familiar comfortable with riding transit, and expand access to education, extracurricular and job opportunities for young people.
The new policy for young riders took effect at most of the region’s transit agencies on September 1, though Everett Transit began even earlier on July 1 and Washington State Ferries and Amtrak launched its initiatives on October 1.
Transit agencies are continuing to refine the logistics of the Free Youth Transit Pass to streamline boarding and simplify the program for customers. In 2023, agencies will continue to distribute ORCA cards to students and exploring “smart” sticker that can be tapped on transit card readers or a smartphone tap feature.
Learn more about regional transit coordination in our 2022 Transit Integration Report.