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Transit agencies offer free rides in July
turlock transit
Starting Aug. 1, there are a few fare changes for Turlock Transit including senior discounts for those ages 55 and older (Journal file photo).

Turlock residents can take a free ride throughout the month of July on both Turlock Transit buses and Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority lines.

All rides on all fixed route buses will be free for passengers during July as part of a joint, free ride promotion. This includes MAX to BART Commuter Express, MAX to ACE Commuter Express, and StaRT’s BART Commuter bus services, but excludes ADA Paratransit, Medivan, and Dial-a-Ride services.

Funding for the joint, free ride promotion is made possible through a grant from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) under the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP). The Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) is providing grant management assistance in supporting these activities.

“We’re excited to coordinate our efforts with our regional partners to make it easier than ever for all County residents to experience the benefits of transit, particularly for those residents that have never stepped foot on a bus before,” said Wayne York, Transit Manager for Turlock Transit. “We look forward to showing the public how using public transit can be a positive, cost-effective transportation alternative to single-occupant motor vehicles.”

The goal of the free ride promotion is to reduce the use of single occupant vehicles in an effort to reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and countless hours wasted on freeways. In addition to this free ride promotion, regional transit operators plan to coordinate additional free ride promotional opportunities through June 2022 under the same LCTOP grant program. These promotional periods include Holiday Free Rides (Dec. 12-24, 2021), Go Green Week (March 2022), and Earth Day (April 2022).

“We are thrilled to offer free rides during July to get more people using MAX and StaRT services,” said Adam Barth, StanRTA Director of Operations and Planning. “Public transportation is an effective way to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and get around Modesto and the region.”

Residents are encouraged to make the most of this free ride promotion by planning their trips in advance. Trip planning tools are available on the websites of the transit operators, as well as through smartphone apps such as Google Maps or the Transit app. These tools make it easy to determine the closest bus stop, the correct route, and access real-time bus arrival information.

All public transit buses in the county are accessible to individuals with disabilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

For more information on Turlock Transit and its services, visit www.turlocktransit.com or call (209) 668-5600.

For more information on MAX and its services, visit www.modestoareaexpress.com or call (209) 521-1274.

For more information on StaRT and its services, visit www.srt.org or call 1-800-262-1516.