BALTIMORE — Beginning next month, Baltimore school children will see their window extended for receiving free rides home each school day on local transit buses, metro and light rail.
The Maryland Transit Administration announced on Monday a pilot program beginning April 1 that allows student access to buses until 8 p.m. The previous cut-off time to board for free using student tickets was 6:30 p.m. Baltimore City Public Schools requested the change because MTA’s previous policy requiring individual approval of late travel for certain students participating in after-school activities proved cumbersome, according to the MTA.
MTA said in a release that the pilot program will only be in effect through the end of the current school year, and it will evaluate the program prior to the start of the 2009-2010 school year to determine if the free rides until 8 p.m. continue. MTA also said it will “closely monitor any comments or observations from school neighborhoods, local businesses, law enforcement, parents, students and administrators during the program period.”
The Maryland Transit Administration announced on Monday a pilot program beginning April 1 that allows student access to buses until 8 p.m. The previous cut-off time to board for free using student tickets was 6:30 p.m. Baltimore City Public Schools requested the change because MTA’s previous policy requiring individual approval of late travel for certain students participating in after-school activities proved cumbersome, according to the MTA.
MTA said in a release that the pilot program will only be in effect through the end of the current school year, and it will evaluate the program prior to the start of the 2009-2010 school year to determine if the free rides until 8 p.m. continue. MTA also said it will “closely monitor any comments or observations from school neighborhoods, local businesses, law enforcement, parents, students and administrators during the program period.”
