January 8, 2008
More students eligible to receive free TriMet passes

A pilot program offering free, unrestricted TriMet passes to all students at some PPS high schools has expanded this month to include the Roosevelt campus. It continues to serve Franklin and Jefferson high schools, where it began last fall.

Students at Franklin, Jefferson and Roosevelt schools — about 2,300 total — should have received their free passes. They are valid through June and can be used for all TriMet services.

Portland Public Schools continues to offer free passes to all high school students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and live more than 1½ miles from their neighborhood school. (Passes are not given to students who transfer outside their neighborhood school.) Other students may purchase discounted ($26) monthly bus passes from TriMet.

Plans to expand the program this month to include Grant and Lincoln high schools have been put on hold while TriMet seeks additional financial partners.

For more information, contact Phil Weber, PPS director of transportation services, pweber@pps.k12.or.us, 503-916-7270.

At Portland Public Schools, this is our goal: By the end of elementary, middle, and high school, every student by name will meet or exceed academic standards and will be fully prepared to make productive life decisions. For more information on Portland Public Schools, call 503-916-3304, e-mail us at pubinfo@pps.k12.or.us, or visit www.pps.k12.or.us. Portland Public Schools is an equal opportunity educator and employer.