Twin Transit has launched a new Student Bus Pass program that allows high school students in the area to purchase a semester-long bus pass for $10 in the hopes that it will grant young people more freedom and access to various opportunities including after-school programs and part-time jobs.
“(Students) want to get after-school jobs, to get to and from friends’ and family’s houses, to go to the movies, out to eat, the pool, the Boys and Girls Club, and enjoy all the other great amenities our community has to offer. But, it’s often tricky. Cars, gas and insurance are expensive. Parents are often unable to chauffer them, because they’re at work or busy with other responsibilities. Walking isn’t always feasible or safe. Public transit is the ideal solution,” said Andrea Culletto, community relations manager with Twin Transit.
The bus passes are available for purchase at the Centralia High School main office, at W.F. West in the ASB office and at Futurus High School and Turning Point Alternative School. The student bus passes were available at the beginning of January at the conclusion of winter break. Culletto said they are working to set up the program in the middle school. Twin Transit has an established program with Centralia College students that grants them free bus pass on their college student ID.
Culletto said that most of the Twin Transit bus drivers began their careers driving school buses making them excellent at keeping an eye on younger riders and helping them get to their destination.
“I teach people how to use public transit at local schools, senior homes, and other locations. After doing several presentations at our local high schools, the need for more affordable public transit for students became apparent. The kids I spoke with want independence,” she said.
Culletto said it is valuable for students to learn how a public transit system works before they go to college or move to a larger city.
“People are so excited about this program — specifically about supporting these kids and their potential. These are smart, hard working kids with big dreams. People are excited about removing the barriers and giving them the tools to go after their goals,” said Culletto.
There are bus stops at W.F. West and Centralia High School and Culletto said that they will be re-doing the bus stops by branding them with the school’s colors and logos much like the bus stop at the Shaw Learning Campus bus stop.
“We’ll also be placing themed bus stops at each library, the Lewis County Historical Museum, and other landmark locations throughout the Twin Cities. We’ve partnered with Don Bunker’s class at W.F. West, where the kids will get hands-on experience designing and printing the graphics for each stop,” said Culletto.
Twin Transit will be launching “enhanced routes” this spring that will make the transit system more dynamic, according to Culletto.
