First day of school in Chicago: Priceless
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
In an effort to encourage school attendance, Chicago officials and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) are again offering all students and accompanying adults free bus and train rides on the first day of the Chicago Public Schools school year, today, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s “First Day, Free Rides” program, first launched September 2011, provided more than 116,000 free rides to students and their parents or guardians last year.
“Affordable, reliable public transportation plays an important role in our children’s education,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Encouraging school attendance on Day One sets the tone for the rest of the school year and contributes to forming good habits and priorities by our students.”
“We are happy to once again offer students and their accompanying adult free bus and train rides on their first day of school,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “Our hope is that this small incentive will help young people realize the importance of attending class each day and how we are all cheering for their academic success.”
For the remainder of the school year, CTA will also continue to offer 75-cent fares for elementary and high school students, a practice begun in 2013, Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. while school is in session.
Beyond school hours, elementary students ages 7-11 pay reduced fares of $1 on the bus and $1.10 on rail. Passengers who are 12 and older pay the full fare of $2 on bus and $2.25 on rail.
