District continues riding with Metro The GoPass Fareless program continues for this school year

BY PAMELA KALIDASAN Features Editor

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) along with Metro and United States Senator Diane Feinstein (DCA) announced the extension of the GoPass Fareless Program for 21 Los Angeles County community colleges, including Pierce and their eight sibling colleges, for 20222023.

Students can use their GoPass card for 12 transits including Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Culver CityBus, Gardena transit and others alike.

According to Metro, around a quarter of LACCD attending students used public transit before the pandemic when they used to pay roughly around $160 for a Metro U-Pass card. For those students, the costs for transportation matters, especially when gas prices peaked to new record highs.

Biology major Alondra Gomez stated that the bus is the only way she gets around and that using the fareless card helped her save money in the long run.

“It helped me a lot because literally the bus is the only way I can get to places,” Gomez said. “I mean it’s just for transport because I couldn’t unfortunately be able to afford a car, especially nowadays with the inflation and gas prices, the bus pass helps me get to school and go to doctor appointments.”

Pierce’s Business Office Supervisor, Pardaman Singh Mann, reported that the Business Office gave out approximately 737 GoPass cards around last spring and for this fall semester it increased slightly—895 students signed up.

“I can say that since we started distributing (the cards) last December, students like it and they really appreciate it,” Pardaman said. “They say ‘it’s like one less stress,’ and they kept asking ‘if this program will be extended for spring.’ They are looking forward to it and they want to have it for future semesters.”’

And from last winter, Pardaman reported that roughly 2,031 Pierce students were enrolled, including those who renewed their card.

Although students have free bus fare, there is more to be done when it comes to providing access to services and resources for their other important needs.

Associate Vice President of Administrative Services Ron Paquette said that Pierce has a commitment to prioritize its students.

“I think that it’s critical to assist students in any way that we can,” Paquette said. “The less students have to worry about their basic needs like housing, food, transportation and health needs, the more they can focus on their academic program. We want to see students' success and we want to see retention and basically doing everything we can to make sure students stay enrolled and complete their goals.”

Transportation is a vital component for everyone, especially schools and colleges who benefit when students utilize the GoPass card to commute so that they can focus on their education more.

“It lets me get free rides,” Business Management major Joshua Cancino said. “Apart from not spending money on the bus itself, I need to go to other places other than school, so that’s why it’s helpful.” pkalidasan.roundupnews@gmail.com

Students can go to the business office to sign up or renew their GoPass card. For more information search “GoPass Fareless Pass Program” or contact lapc-busofc@ piercecollege.edu.