Dear Friends,

In the Fall of 2001 and together with AC Transit, Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia former Assemblywoman Dion Aroner and now Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, our office requested $12 million to fund a three-year pilot program in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

The pilot would buy or subsidize an AC Transit pass for all 6th through 12th graders in the two counties. If a student, because of their family income, qualifies for free or reduced school lunch or breakfast, they would get a bus pass for free. Non low- income families, will have the option of buying a bus pass but at a very reduced rate ($100 a year versus the $270 they currently pay). The bus pass would be a sticker that is affixed to the school issued student identification card.

Our coalition spent many months convincing potential funders of the merits of a bus pass as described. Our major partner and funder soon became the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is a body that is made up of elected officials from the 9 Bay Area counties. The MTC is what is known as a joint-powers authority and is responsible for allocating $82 Billion dollars in transportation money over the next 25 years. Originally advocating for $12 million of that $82 Billion to go toward our student bus pass idea, we were only awarded $2 million over 2 years contingent upon a dollar for dollar match.

We look forward to year two of the bus pass pilot, although it seems almost certain that that year two will look dramatically different with a different fare structure. For the most recent information on this initiative, please call my aide on transportation issues, Lara Sim at (510) 272-6685 or e-mail her at Lara Sim.

Thanks so much.

Sincerely,
Keith Carson, Supervisor
Alameda County, 5th District

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• List of School Bus Pass Initiative Supporters   11Kb*