GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – When it comes to getting to school, or getting around town, walking isn’t always an option.
Bailey Laroque is a sophomore at Green Bay’s South West High School.
“Some people can’t pay for the city buses, or they don’t have transportation to get to school”
Students like Bailey will soon be able to ride city buses for free .
“If I miss the bus, the school bus, it’s nice to know I have an alternative”
It’s part of a partnership between the Green Bay Area School District and the City of Green Bay.
The district says it will be paying about $180,000 per year.
“In today’s society we’re all kind of forced to do more with less “
Patty Kiewiz, the Green Bay Metro Transit Director tells WLUK the rate was based on the number of bus passes the district typically purchased each year.
“It will help offset that cost of student revenue that the city was typically receiving from the school district.”
Kiewiz says the free service will available for students all year round, and all that is needed is their student ID.
The district is hopeful this will also lead to increased learning, outside the classroom, by using the transit system for field trips within the city.
“Without public transportation this wouldn’t have happened, ” said Ann Klapatch, fourth grade teacher at Jackson Elementary.
Klapatch’s students were able to test drive the free service.
They boarded a bus Tuesday for a field trip to the Neville Museum.
Elementary students seven and younger will need to be accompanied by an older sibling or parent.
The free bus service which also includes teachers starts July 1st.
