Thousands of Free Rides Taken this Summer Thanks to St. Lucie County’s Program
FORT PIERCE – More than 3,000 free bus rides were given to students this summer thanks to a new program offered by St. Lucie County’s Community Transit, the Council on Aging and the Treasure Coast Connector.
The county provided 3,032 free rides during summer break to any resident under the age of 18 with a valid student ID or St. Lucie County Library card. Established in partnership with the Roundtable of St. Lucie County, the 10-week program followed the National Gang Model to address crime through prevention, intervention and suppression.
“We are extremely pleased to see such a large participation rate in this new program,” said St. Lucie County Community Services Director Beth Ryder. “By offering free bus rides, we removed one of the major barriers prohibiting students to take advantage of programs at local parks, pools and libraries. As a result, we’ve seen an increase in participation at the various library programs that the county offered this summer from the reading challenge to the weekly science and reading events.”
For more information about the Treasure Coast Connector, including bus routes, fares and transit stations, call 772-464-RIDE (7433) or visit: https://treasurecoastconnector.com. To obtain a library card, visit https://library.stlucieco.gov to find a branch near you.