San Mateo, CA – The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) is excited to announce the distribution of 5,000 free SamTrans Way2Go passes to high-need students at Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College this fall. This initiative aims to alleviate transportation barriers for our community’s low-income learners and ensure they can pursue their studies.
This significant program is made possible through the generous support of a City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) Lifeline Transportation Program Cycle 7 Grant, totaling $730,000. The grant provides 10,000 passes over two years, with half slated for distribution this academic year. The grant was supplemented with a $109,000 match from the San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation and a $36,000 match from SamTrans.
“Our commitment to supporting our students extends well beyond the classroom, and we know that free college coupled with reliable transportation is key to their success,” said Melissa Moreno, J.D., Chancellor of SMCCCD. “Thanks to C/CAG, SamTrans, and our Foundation, we can have a collective impact—one that eases access to the only public institution of higher education in our County.”
“This collaboration with SMCCCD and C/CAG will provide an economic lifeline to low-income students, giving them access to reliable transportation and the opportunity to pursue their educational goals,” said SamTrans Deputy General Manager/CEO David Santoro. “We are proud to be a part of this initiative and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our community.”
The Way2Go passes will be distributed through college SparkPoint centers, which offer low-income people resources for meeting their basic needs and increasing their income. Students who demonstrate high financial need on a SparkPoint application will get free, unlimited travel on SamTrans buses seven days a week. Distribution of passes will begin over the next week following outreach to qualifying students.
“This grant is a fantastic opportunity for our students,” said Megan Barber Allende, Executive Director of the San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation. “By alleviating transportation costs, we are helping our students focus on their studies and achieve their academic goals.”
Media Contact: David McLain, Community & Government Relations, SMCCCD, (650) 730-8049 or mclaind@smccd.edu
About San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD)
SMCCCD operates three colleges, Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College, that provide community college educational services to the residents of San Mateo County. The District’s three colleges serve over 30,000 students annually and offer the first two years of college-level instruction in various transfer and career-technical programs. The District is governed by a six-member Board of Trustees, with five voting members elected by voters from designated areas of the County and one nonvoting student member elected by students. For more information, see: smccd.edu
About SamTrans
The San Mateo County Transit District operates 74 routes and two on-demand service areas. Funded in part by a half-cent sales tax, the district also provides administrative support for Caltrain and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. SamTrans has provided bus service to San Mateo County customers since 1976.
About City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG)
The City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) is a regional agency dedicated to coordinating local transportation, land use, and environmental planning efforts. The Lifeline Transportation Program provides critical funding to improve transportation access for low-income communities.
About San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation
The San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation supports the San Mateo County Community College District by raising funds to provide scholarships, grants, and resources to enhance educational opportunities and foster student success.