The Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority (StanRTA) and City of Turlock (“Turlock Transit”) recently announced that all rides on all fixed-route buses will be free for passengers during July as part of a joint free-ride promotion. This includes local fixed-route as well as ACE, BART, and Stockton Commuter bus services, but excludes ADA Paratransit, Medivan, and Dial-a-Ride services.

Funding for the joint free-ride promotion is made possible through a grant from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) under the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP), as well as federal transit funding. The Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) is providing grant management assistance in supporting these activities. The goal of the free-ride promotion is to reduce the use of single occupant vehicles in an effort to reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and countless hours wasted on freeways. The regional transit operators have also used the LCTOP grant to provide free-ride promotional opportunities such as Go Green Week (March 2023) and Earth Day (April 2023).

“We’re excited to coordinate our efforts to make it easier than ever for all Stanislaus County residents to experience the benefits of transit, particularly for those residents struggling with high gas prices,” said Adam Barth, StanRTA CEO. “We look forward to showing the public how using public transit can be a positive, cost-effective transportation alternative to single-occupant motor vehicles.”

The transit providers also hope the effort will help curb air pollution during the summer months.

“As more residents elect to use low- or zero-emission public transit buses for some of their trips, they’re helping improve air quality within the region,” said Wayne York, Transit Manager for Turlock Transit. “Whether you’re using transit to get to work, shopping, or even direct access to the Stanislaus County Fair, we hope this opportunity to encourages residents to consider greater use of transit for future trips.”

Residents are encouraged to make the most of this free-ride promotion by planning their trips in advance. Trip planning tools are available on the websites of the transit operators (www.stanrta.org and www.turlocktransit.com), as well as through smartphone apps such as Google Maps or the Transit app which are available for free on the App Store and Google Play. These tools make it easy to determine the closest bus stop, the correct route, and access real-time bus arrival information. Also, all public transit buses in the county are accessible to individuals with disabilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).