RideKC Expands Free Student Pass Pilot Program to North Kansas City
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) is expanding its Student Pass pilot to the four North Kansas City High Schools starting in the Fall of 2019. KCATA will welcome the new school district to the program in a pep-rally style news conference at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at Oak Park High School at 825 NE 79th Terr., Kansas City, Mo. 64118. The Student Pass Program kicked off last year with three school districts south of the river. Due to its success, the program will now expand to Oak Park, Winnetonka, Staley and North Kansas City high schools.
“Talent knows no zip code; but opportunity does,” said Robbie Makinen, CEO of KCATA. “We want students to have access to transit whether they live north or south of the river. They all deserve access to transit.”
The pilot partnership between KCATA, Kansas City Public Schools, Hickman Mills C-1 School District and Center Public School District will continue for the upcoming school year. High school students in the pilot program took 40,000 trips so far.
“We are so excited about this partnership with KCATA. This will open up a variety of opportunities for many NKCS students for whom transportation may have been a barrier,” said Dr. Dan Clemens, Superintendent North Kansas City Schools. “The student bus pass program will be another tool our students can use to further their success in our district and beyond.”
For more information regarding RideKC service, please visit RideKC.org. If you have questions about your student’s participation in the program, please contact your school.