Kids and teens ride free on Tri-Cities buses for the next 6 months. How to get a pass

Kids can ride Ben Franklin Transit in the Tri-Cities area for free during a trial six-month program.

The free rides for anyone 18 or younger will be offered from June 1 to Nov. 30, covering the summer and the start of the next school year.

The transit board recognizes the importance of making the bus system available to all youth and to “eliminating barriers to education, after school activities, even employment,” said board Chairman Will McKay.

Riders will need a free youth pass to participate.

They are available by calling the transit at 509-735-5100, at bft.org/fares or at ticket outlets that include many grocery stores. The transit also will work with school districts and youth programs to make the free passes available.

The Washington state Legislature requires transit systems to charge no fares to those 18 and younger to be eligible for the maximum funding under the recently passed “Move Ahead Washington” transportation package.

It includes $17 billion over 16 years, with $3 billion designated for public transit.

Ben Franklin Transit also will be required to maintain its sales tax collection at least at the current level to be eligible for funding.

Last month the board discussed reducing the 0.6% sales tax collected for the transit in the bicounty Tri-Cities area to 0.5%, but tabled the issue.

The Youth Ride Free program will start as transit officials continue to evaluate changes in the fares it charges, including free fares.

“For the past several months, BFT has been working on a comprehensive fare study for all transit and vanpool services that we expect to be completed and adopted in September 2022,” said interim General Manager Ed Frost. “Options being evaluated in the fare study include both limited and comprehensive ‘zero fare’ programs.”

In some previous years, the transit has offered a $25 summer youth pass.

Ben Franklin transit serves Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, West Richland, Benton City, Prosser and Finley.

This story was originally published May 14, 2022 at 11:53 AM.