Q & A regarding Student Transit Pass Program

QUESTION	ANSWER
When will the free student pass program begin?	The Student Transit Pass Program will begin September 1.
How can my student get his/her pass?	Passes for the program are distributed through schools. Flyers describing the program will be provided to area schools to distribute to families in back-to-school packets. The flyers will include a temporary card that students can use to board LTD free during September. Many students will receive their 2007-08 school photo ID card during September, and they will need to get a program sticker on their card. The card and sticker will serve as the students’ free bus pass to board LTD for unlimited riding to school, work, and other destinations. LTD will provide October and November monthly youth passes to schools for staff to give to interested students who do not yet have their 2007-08 school photo ID card. By December 1, all students must have obtained their 2007-08 school photo ID card and program sticker to board LTD for free.
Will the program continue through June 30, 2008, like this past year?	We believe so. Currently LTD has approval to provide the program through December 31, 2007. The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) will seek administrative rule revisions to allow LTD to apply for the rest of the school year. The ODOE intends the program to continue through the school year.
Will this program continue indefinitely?	We cannot predict the future. We do know the program is approved to continue beginning September 1, 2007. We encourage students to use this free service because increasing usage will help sustain the program.
I bought a summer youth pass that included September. Can I get a refund?	No, the $19.95 summer youth pass actually provides the third month for free. Last summer, the $19.95 pass covered two months. Your student can use their summer youth pass to ride LTD in September if they have not received their back-to-school flyer with the temporary September pass by September 1.
Will the program include elementary school students or those who are home-schooled?	No. Elementary school students do not receive a school photo identification card, which serves as the boarding pass when combined with the program sticker. Also, the STPP program is based on a group rate for all students at participating schools and few students at the elementary age ride LTD. The STPP was developed to reduce school commutes by car. While many home-school students travel in the community as part of their education, they are not required to travel each school day to a school building. The only exception is for home-school students enrolled at HomeSource.