Program administrators will decide on an extension this month
The TriMet YouthPass program lost its major source of funding and is in danger of being cut entirely. The current funding will continue until Dec. 31, 2011, at which point a new source of funding must be found if the program is to continue.
The program allows any high-school student currently enrolled in the Portland Public School District to ride public transportation (including buses, MAX and the streetcar) for free at any time during the school year.
YouthPass began as a pilot program for three schools in the PPS district (approximately 2,200 students) in the 2008–09 school year, and the following year expanded to include all the schools in the district (13,000 students).
“[This is] a very beneficial program for our students,” said Andy Leibenguth, student transportation director at PPS. “It breaks down barriers for access to education as well as other enrichment opportunities. It builds future riders for the transit system, reduces congestion in and around schools, and reduces redundancy in and around transportation. We see a lot of benefits not only for students, but for schools and neighborhoods as well.”
According to Leigbenguth,a survey conducted last spring determined that nearly 90 percent of students used their passes regularly. Prior to YouthPass, about 44 percent of students reported using TriMet to get to school.
Students do not only use the pass to get to school. Another survey conducted during the fall of 2009 found that 24 percent of students utilized the pass to get to and from work, and another 45 percent of students used it for after-school activities.
“We have heard more than anything that the loss of the program will impact [a student’s] ability to get to and from school. Some students made a decision about what school to attend based on this pass, and some may not be able to access these schools anymore,” Leibenguth added.
“I am getting emails every day saying, ‘Please do everything you can to keep YouthPass,’” said Todd Diskin, Portland’s youth strategies coordinator. “It has become an essential program, and overwhelmingly the community is saying it is pretty important. A transit pass does not cost an adult much money, but students just do not have the same amount of resources as adults do.”
As of the 2010–11 school year, the approximate cost of the program is $3.5 million annually. Funding for the program came primarily through the Business Energy Tax Credit program, which contributed $2.55 million a year—approximately 75 percent of the cost. The other 25 percent—approximately $800,000—was paid by PPS.
However, in June 2011, the Oregon Legislature decided that energy tax credits would no longer be allowed to pay for student transit costs. With 75 percent of the funding gone, it is up to PPS to fill the gap.
“We cannot shoulder that burden ourselves; we are still working with state legislature to see if there is a way to extend the program,” Leibenguth added. “We are working with TriMet to continue the program beyond December.”
According to Leibenguth, it would be difficult to say whether or not the discontinuation of the program would directly affect attendance at schools because it has not changed much since the program began. However, “there will be some students whose ability to get to school will be directly impacted,” Leibenguth said.
Students attending alternative education schools such as Open Meadow High School, in which over 80 percent of the students are low-income, benefit greatly from the YouthPass program.
“The YouthPass program is critical for our students, who travel from all parts of the city of Portland,” wrote Andrew Mason, executive director of Open Meadow Schools, in an e-mail. “Its removal will have a disproportionate impact on our low-income families and families of color. Open Meadow stands firmly in favor of its reinstatement.”
Currently, Mayor Sam Adams, PPS and TriMet are discussing what can be done to make YouthPass a long-term program. A new source of funds must be identified, or the current program must be altered, in order for YouthPass to continue.
A decision on the future of YouthPass is planned for mid-November.
“We remain hopeful and optimistic that we may at least have a way to get through the rest of the school year, if not beyond,” Leibenguth said.
Thank you for bringing up this issue. It will greatly impact youth living in Portland and I am happy to see PSU highlighting issues that impact our Portland community!!
I remember the first day that MAX started. I was in 1st grade. Since then Tri-Met has become corrupt, greedy, and down right untolerable. A majority of the drivers really should take a refresher course in driving buses to be honest with you. I ride every day, even though I own car, I’m a native what can I say?
What gets me is that other schools in the Multnomah County who have to pay for their children’s bus fare, while PPS didn’t.
I am actually pretty glad that they may stop this program for that one reason only, sad as it is. I’m just getting pissed that my fare goes up pretty much every six months, my services get cut; yet the people west of 82nd and the people of DT get all the perks!!! Especially in a free area!!! WTF?
Don’t make everyone pay for the what only some get to use.
I’m pretty sick of TriMet and the over paid employee benefits.