Student Transit Pass Program

The Student Transit Pass Program (STPP) provides free youth Clipper cards to eligible middle and high school students in Alameda County which can be used for unlimited free bus rides in their area (on AC Transit, Union City Transit or LAVTA Wheels), as well as a 50 percent discount on BART trips and youth discounts on other transit systems.

Alameda CTC is responsible for the implementation of the STPP in Alameda County. The program makes it easier to travel to and from school and school-related programs, jobs and other activities, expanding transportation options for Alameda County’s middle and high school students.

The goals of the program are to:
  • Reduce barriers to transportation access to and from schools
  • Improve transportation options for Alameda County's middle and high school students
  • Build support for transit in Alameda County
  • Implement a cost effective program
The Student Transit Pass Program is undergoing a phased expansion to all middle and high schools in Alameda County with bus service over the next five years. The expansion phasing seeks to balance geographic equity across planning areas in the county.

During the 2020-2021 school year, the Student Transit Pass Program will expand to all middle and high schools with bus service in the following districts:
  • Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE)
  • Emery Unified School District (Emery USD)
  • Hayward Unified School District (HUSD)
  • Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD)
  • New Haven Unified School District (NHUSD)
  • Newark Unified School District (NUSD)
  • Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD)
  • San Leandro Unified School District (SLUSD)
  • San Lorenzo Unified School District (SLZUSD)
The STPP program will include a subset of middle and high schools in the following districts:
  • Alameda Unified School District (AUSD)
  • Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD)
  • Castro Valley Unified School District (CVUSD)
  • Fremont Unified School District (FUSD)
  • Oakland Unified School District (OUSD).
The schools participating during the 2020-2021 school year can be found on the next tab, Students Apply Here.
Use the School District dropdown menu to find your school’s application!

Free and universal program: All students at the following schools have access to a free AC Transit bus pass on a Clipper card.
Means-based program: All low-income students at the following schools have access to a free AC Transit bus pass on a Clipper card.
Means-based program: All low-income students at the following schools have access to a free AC Transit bus pass on a Clipper card.
Means-based program: All low-income students at the following schools have access to a free AC Transit bus pass on a Clipper card.
Free and universal program: All students at the following schools have access to a free AC Transit bus pass on a Clipper card.
Means-based program: All low-income students at the following schools have access to a free AC Transit bus pass on a Clipper card.
Means-based program: All low-income students at the following schools have access to a free AC Transit bus pass on a Clipper card.
Free and universal program: All students at the following schools have access to a free LAVTA Wheels bus pass on a Clipper card.
Means-based program: All low-income students at the following schools have access to a free AC Transit and Union City Transit bus pass on a Clipper card.
Means-based program: All low-income students at the following schools have access to a free AC Transit bus pass on a Clipper card.
Free and universal program: All students at the following schools have access to a free AC Transit bus pass on a Clipper card.
Means-based program: All low-income students at the following schools have access to a free LAVTA Wheels bus pass on a youth Clipper Card.
Means-based program: All low-income students at the following schools have access to a free AC Transit bus pass on a Clipper card.
Means-based program: All low-income students at the following schools have access to a free AC Transit bus pass on a Clipper card.

Student Resources
students sign up for program
banner for the student transit pass pilot
Market the Student Transit Pass Program

We encourage you to download these free graphics to help direct students to the online application. Right-click on the thumbnail to download and save the .png file.

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Recommended Caption: "You could be eligible for a free transit pass. To learn more and apply go to bit.ly/studenttransitpass and if you have any questions, talk to your school office administrators!"

How to Support Your Students
  • Students can apply online! Help your students find their school’s online application under the Students Apply Here tab.
  • If your students have questions about the program, direct them to the Student FAQs document located under the Students Apply Here tab.
  • Are your students new to riding transit? They'll be confident riders in no time! On the Students Apply Here tab, scroll to the bottom of the page to find STUDENT RESOURCES, a collection of kid-friendly guides around bus basics and riding safely.
Program History
Alameda CTC was responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of a three-year Student Transit Pass Pilot Program (Pilot) in Alameda County. This was identified in the voter-approved 2014 Transportation Expenditure Plan (2014 Plan) and is funded by Measure BB. The 2014 Plan included $15 million “for the purposes of funding one or more models for a student transit pass program designed to account for geographic difference within the county.” This Pilot provided a vital opportunity to assess student transportation needs throughout the county and to develop an approach to meet those needs through implementation of an affordable pass program. The Pilot proved effective at making it easier for students to travel to and from school and school-related programs, jobs and other activities, and expanded transportation options for Alameda County’s middle and high school students.

The Commission-adopted goals of the Pilot were:
  • Reduce barriers to transportation access to and from schools
  • Improve transportation options for Alameda County's middle and high school students
  • Build support for transit in Alameda County
  • Develop effective three-year pilot programs
  • Create a basis for a countywide student transit pass program (funding permitting)

The program was implemented from August 2016 through July 2019, and several pilot program models were tested during this time. In March 2016, the Commission approved a site selection framework and a shortlist of 36 school sites that were eligible during the three-year pilot. At the same time, the Commission approved an evaluation framework for the pilot program including 18 quantitative and qualitative measures to asses the effectiveness of the pilot program models. Throughout this process, feedback was solicited from interested stakeholders. A robust evaluation report was published each year of the Pilot; the reports are available below.

Pilot Program Evaluation
The Year One Pilot Program Evaluation Report was published in October 2017. The Year Two Pilot Program Evaluation Report and Appendices were published in November 2018. The Year Three Pilot Program Evaluation Report was published in November 2019. The Final Pilot Program Evaluation Report, which includes appendices, was published in February 2020.

The evaluation reports draw on a variety of qualitative and quantitative data collected throughout the three-year pilot period, including:
  • Data reported from transit agencies (historical baseline and usage data)
  • Information tracked by the school program administrators
  • Surveys and focus groups at schools

Background Documents