Free Transit Rides for Students Possible in Sacramento

Sacramento school officials say far too many students are "chronically absent" from school, and the primary cause of those absences are a lack of transportation.

In response, the city is considering a proposal that would "let all children in kindergarten through 12th grade who live or go to school in Sacramento ride public transit — buses and light rail — for free," according to an article by Theresa Clift.

"Sacramento Regional Transit estimates the program would increase ridership to 40,000 students in its first year, a 600 percent increase from today, Schenirer said. The councilman hopes many children who take the free transit would continue on as transit riders as adults, which helps reduce greenhouse gases," writes Clift.

City Councilmember Jay Schenirer is asking the city of Sacramento to pend $1 million of its fiscal year 2019-20 budget to fund the first year of the program.