Making College More Affordable

Assemblymember Sandré R. Swanson will be joined by Peralta students and college officials, as well as AC Transit officials to discuss the passage of AB 1980, the Peralta College Transportation Accessibility Act. The bill was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger last week.

Additionally, officials will discuss the launch of the EasyPass for Peralta, a one-year pilot program that will allow full-time students to receive a significant discount on bus passes each semester. Students taking 12 units or more will only have to pay $50 per semester for unlimited rides, a savings of up to $1292 per year.

“This partnership is not only essential to the accessibility of the Peralta Colleges to our community, but to the sustainability of our environment," said former Peralta Student Trustee Reginald James. "More students will be able to ride the bus to school; a win-win for Peralta and AC Transit.”

AB 1980 will allow students in the Peralta Colleges to vote on a fee to subsidize bus passes for the entire student body or for students who take a specified number of units.

Students are expected to vote on the program in spring 2009.

For more information, contact Reginald James at rjames@actransit.org.