Free 2019-2020 Kingston Transit high school bus passes now available
Update (Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019): After receiving a few inquiries regarding whether or not students from Sydenham High School are included in the Secondary School Transit Program, we reached out to the City of Kingston to find out.
According to the City, Sydenham High School students are not included in the program.
“The high school transit program is available to students and schools within the service area as part of a funding arrangement with the school boards. The service area for Kingston Transit includes the city of Kingston and Amherstview,” said Jeremy DaCosta, director of transit and fleet services for the City of Kingston.
“Since a majority of students who attend Sydenham High School live outside of this service area, the school is not included in the program.”
Original article: Following a decision at the Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019 City Council meeting, Kingston high school students will be able to ride the bus for free this upcoming school year.
All Grades 9 through 12 students in Kingston will be able to renew or sign-up for a free Kingston Transit bus pass for the 2019-2020 academic school year starting Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019.
The free pass is available for all students at the high school level, including home-schooled students, as well as students attending private and separate schools. The high school Kingston Transit pass will be valid from Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019 until the end of August 2020.
Mayor Bryan Paterson said that free bus passes have not only given youth more access to local work and volunteer opportunities, but also allowed them to participate in community events and develop a “greater connection to the Kingston community at large.”
“The success of this initiative can be seen every day when you see buses full of high school students,” said Mayor Paterson. “Starting with our youth, we are creating a new transit culture in Kingston.”
The program began in 2012 as a pilot program providing free passes to Grade 9 students, according to director of transit and fleet services Jeremy DaCosta.
“In that year, more than 28,000 trips had been taken by Grade 9 students. Over the course of seven years, the program has grown to now include Grade 9-12 students,” DaCosta said. “In the 2018-2019 school year alone, high school students accounted for roughly 425,000 rides.”
The current 2018-2019 student pass will be valid until Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 to allow students a period of time to renew. Eligible students can begin using their 2019-2020 passes on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019.
Kingston Transit will visit each high school in the area on the following dates to issue Grade 9 passes and to complete a complimentary transit training session. Grade 10-12 students can also renew their passes on these select dates.
Bayridge Secondary School
Thursday, September 5, 2019
École Secondaire Catholique Marie-Rivier
Monday, September 16, 2019
École Secondaire Publique Mille-Iles
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Ernestown Secondary School
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Frontenac Secondary School
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Kingston Collegiate & Vocational Institute
Thursday, August 29, 2019 (Grade 9 students)
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 (Grade 10-12 students)
LaSalle Secondary School
Monday, September 9, 2019
Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute
Monday, August 26, 2019 (Grade 9 students)
Tuesday, September 17, 2019 (Grade 10-12 students)
Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Private school and home-based education students can contact the Kingston Transit administration office to renew or receive a new bus pass at 613-546-4291 ext. 2365. The office is located at 1181 John Counter Boulevard and is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Grade 9-12 students who wish to receive their pass prior to their school visit should follow the steps below:
Grade 9 students:
- Download a registration form at: www.KingstonTransit.ca/studentpass
- Bring the filled-in form to City Hall (216 Ontario St.), or the Guest Services Desk at the Cataraqui Centre (945 Gardiners Rd.), along with:
- a 2019-20 Grade 9 student photo ID card; or
- a 2019-20 Grade 9 student timetable and a birth certificate.
The initial $3 fee for the photo ID pass is waived for Grade 9 students.
Grade 10, 11 and 12 students:
- Download a registration form at: www.KingstonTransit.ca/studentpass
- Bring the filled-in form to City Hall (216 Ontario St.), or the Guest Services Desk at the Cataraqui Centre (945 Gardiners Rd.), along with:
- a 2019-20 Grade 10, 11 or 12 student photo ID card; or
- a previous Grade 9, 10 or 11 transit bus card and a 2019-20 Grade 10, 11 or 12 student timetable; or
- if you do not have a previous Grade 9, 10 or 11 bus card, bring a 2019-20 Grade 10, 11 or 12 student timetable and a birth certificate.
The $3 fee for a new or replacement card applies to Grade 10, 11 and 12 students.
While waiting for Sunday Sept. 1, 2019 for the free passes to be valid, the City encourages students to explore Kingston Transit’s other fare options at www.KingstonTransit.ca
For questions concerning this program, contact City of Kingston customer service by phone at 613-546-0000 or by email at [email protected].
Why is it that not all of the secondary schools in the area get free passes? Yes, Sydenham High School is 20 mins away but many of the students that go there are frequently in Kingston and should have access to a free bus pass as well. Students shouldn’t be punished for going to school out of the city (which Ernestown is not in Kingston limits either and still receive a bus pass).
100 agree!. Seeing as home schooled kids and private school kids are included in this program. I wonder if Elginburg area home schooled kids are included.