Rialto board approves Omnitrans fare-free agreement and updates student transportation plan
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Summary
The board approved an Omnitrans agreement guaranteeing free unlimited rides for K–12 students (06/01/2026–06/01/2029) and updated the student-transportation plan for 2026–27; staff said Omnitrans and county transit grants fund the program and student IDs serve as fare passes.
Rialto Unified School District trustees approved an agreement with Omnitrans on Feb. 11 to provide kindergarten through 12th-grade students unlimited fare-free rides on Omnitrans fixed-route services beginning June 1, 2026, through June 1, 2029, at a not-to-exceed cost of $156,000 to the district if external grants do not materialize.
Dora Parham, director of transportation, said Omnitrans and the San Bernardino County Transit Authority provide funding that covers most of the program and that the district’s $156,000 figure is a fallback estimate. Students will be able to board with a school-issued student ID; Parham said sites that currently use the program include Eisenhower, Carter and Rialto High.
The board also approved the required update to the student-transportation plan for the 2026–27 school year as specified by Education Code section 39800.1. Board members asked staff to request data from Omnitrans about ridership counts and to expand family outreach (ParentSquare) so parents know their students may use the service outside school hours.
What happens next: Staff will request usage data from Omnitrans, plan outreach to families and consider including the fare-free option in summer-school communications.