Residents in the local area can ride the bus for free in July, throughout Stanislaus County and even beyond.
The Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority (StanRTA), the City of Turlock (Turlock Transit) and The Transit Joint Powers Authority for Merced County (The Bus), announced that all rides on fixed-route, commuter, and ADA Paratransit buses will be free for passengers during July as part of a joint free-ride promotion. This includes local fixed-route services as well as ACE, BART, and Stockton Commuter bus services, The Micro Bus in Merced County, ADA Paratransit, and Medivan. All public transit buses in Stanislaus and Merced counties are accessible to individuals with disabilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
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 other transit funding sources.
“Through our Free Fares Project, we’re able to provide free, safe, and reliable transportation services for residents to travel to educational institutions, employment centers, medical offices, grocery stores, and shopping malls,” said Adam Barth, StanRTA CEO. “Free Fares July helps makes it possible for riders to use public transportation without any financial hardship.”
The Stanislaus County regional transit operators have also used the LCTOP grant to provide free-ride promotional opportunities such as Go Green Week in March, Earth Day in April, and Dump the Pump Day in June, with more free fare periods planned through June 2025.
“Our goal is to increase public transit use and improve air quality while at the same time reducing traffic congestion and harmful emissions,” said Wayne York, Transit Manager for Turlock Transit. “We look forward to providing free trips to regional areas of interest, including the annual County Fair.”
“We are excited to integrate free fares with our partners in Stanislaus County,” said Serenity Anderson, Transit Director of the Merced County Association of Governments. “This collaborative effort is designed to enhance accessibility and provide equitable transportation options for all residents. By eliminating fare barriers, we aim to increase ridership, reduce traffic congestion, and support the Central Valley’s environmental goals.”
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 transit operators websites which can be found at: www.mercedthebus.com; www.turlocktransit.com; and www.stanrta.org; as well as through smartphone apps such as the Transit app, Google Maps or StanRTA’s custom Track the S app – all available for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play Stores. These tools make it easy to determine the closest bus stop, the correct route, and access real-time bus arrival information.
The Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority is a joint powers agency whose members are the City of Modesto and the County of Stanislaus, and which was created to consolidate transit services countywide with the exception of the City of Turlock. Turlock Transit is the local provider of public transportation services for residents and visitors within the city of Turlock and community of Denair.
