SCHOOL PASS DETAILS

For Immediate Release: December 5, 2011
Contact: Amy Ruiz, Mayor’s Office, 503-823-4799
Mary Fetsch, TriMet, 503-962-6403
Matt Shelby, PPS, 503-916-3027

City, TriMet, and PPS announce continuation of YouthPass Portland Mayor Sam Adams, TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane, and Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith announced today that the three agencies have closed the $675,000 YouthPass funding shortfall for this school year, ensuring that nearly 13,000 students in the PPS District can continue to utilize TriMet to get to class, to after school activities, and to work.
The YouthPass Program has been a collaborative partnership between TriMet, PPS, and the City of Portland, with support from the Multnomah Youth Commission. The YouthPass supports families by eliminating the cost of transportation, reduces traffic congestion around neighborhood schools, lowers carbon emissions in support of Portland’s Climate Action Plan, and nurtures the next generation of transit users.
The YouthPass Program had been funding by Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Credit. Due to action by the State Legislature, BETC funding will no longer be available for student passes beginning January 1, 2012, creating the funding shortfall.
“When I met with students on the first day of school this year, I heard how important the YouthPass is for the many students who don’t have a safe and reliable alternative way to get to school every day,” Mayor Sam Adams said. “Today, the City, TriMet, and PPS are committing to making sure these students can continue to get to class and after school jobs this year.”
“We’re doing everything we can to keep students engaged in and connected to high school. YouthPass offers every student access to an education and I’m pleased we can extend it throughout the school year,” Superintendent Carole Smith said.
“On behalf of Portland students, I want to thank TriMet, Portland Public Schools and the City for keeping YouthPass in place this year,” added PPS school board student representative Henry Li. “YouthPass is critical in helping many students even attend school. I appreciate the role of the Multnomah Youth Commission and all the students who spoke out about the importance of YouthPass. Your voice kept this program alive.”
Shani Josefina Plunkett-de la Cruz, a junior at Roosevelt High School, and a Multnomah Youth Commissioner, is one of the youth who advocated for continuing the YouthPass. “Many students in my school alone have no other option. They depend on the bus pass and for some, without it, they would not be able to get to school at all,” said Plunkett-de la Cruz, a junior at Roosevelt High School, and a Multnomah Youth Commissioner. “My mom works two jobs, so she doesn't have time to drive me everywhere I need to be. With the YouthPass, I can travel to and from extracurricular activities such as sports, or the Multnomah Youth Commission.”
The funding gap will be closed through a $375,000 YouthPass discount from TriMet, consistent with TriMet’s discount given to prepaid passholders, and retroactively applied to the passes provided to students since September 2011. PPS will contribute an additional $75,000 and the City of Portland will contribute an additional $225,000.
PPS, City of Portland, and TriMet continue to seek a funding solution for the school year beginning September 2012.
Current Program Cost through Spring 2012
$1,645,000 - Price of the Student Pass for all PPS High School Students from Jan-June 2012
less $400,000 Portland Public Schools Contribution
less $570,000 Remaining BETC credit
$675,000 program shortfall
Covering Program Shortfall
$675,000 Program Shortfall
less $375,000 TriMet will price the pass at a 10% discount, consistent with TriMet’s discount given to prepaid passholders and retroactively applied to the passes provided to students since September.
less $75,000 Portland Public Schools additional contribution
less $225,000 City of Portland additional contribution
$0
YouthPass Background:
The YouthPass program started in September 2008 as a pilot project to provide transit passes to students at Jefferson and Franklin High Schools, thanks in part to successful lobbying from the Multnomah Youth Commission. Since September 2009, the program has provided free TriMet Youth Passes to nearly 13,000 high school students in the PPS District. Eighty percent of PPS youth
report using their pass on a regular basis. Prior to the YouthPass Program, PPS purchased passes for approximately 3,500 students.
The YouthPass Program has been funded through Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) program, which has provided $2.55 million annually. PPS has contributed about $800,000 per year to the program, 70 percent (approximately $560,000) of which is reimbursed from the State, for a total expenditure of $240,000. TriMet received $27 for each YouthPass purchased by PPS.
Due to action by the State Legislature, BETC funding will no longer be available for student passes beginning January 1, 2012. Approximately $570,000 is available from remaining BETC funds, as well as the PPS contribution for the second half of the school year ($400,000).
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