Back in June, City Council approved getting rid of Transit fares for children to provide a low-cost transportation option and to encourage the use of public transit and that begins on September 1st. Saskatoon Transit will be free for children in Grade 8 and under, which means elementary school-age children can ride the bus and Access Transit for free without needing to scan a fare pass or show any documentation. The child and bus operator will self-verify when boarding.

Director of Saskatoon Transit, Michael Mollenbeck explains that this initiative was developed after community engagement in the spring and also contacting other transit agencies across the country. Based on the feedback, City Council approved the idea.

To monitor the program’s impact, Saskatoon Transit will collaborate with local school boards and organizations to assess any operational savings and efficiency improvements. Next summer, a report will be presented to Council about how the year went.