FREE RIPTA Summer Youth Bus Passes – but High Schools Must Apply

RIPTA Launches Second Year of Summer Youth Pass Pilot Program

Fully Funded by Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Grant

Schools and Organizations Encouraged to Apply Now Through June 22, 2026

 The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) is inviting high schools and youth-serving organizations to participate in the second year of its special Summer Youth Pass Pilot Program aimed at keeping high school students connected to essential services and opportunities this summer.

Building on the success of last year’s pilot, this initiative continues to be funded by an allocation from Rhode Island’s proceeds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) program and distributed by the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4) pursuant to its FY2025 Spending Plan. The summer youth pass program offers a meaningful solution to a pressing challenge: many high school students need access to transportation in the summer, but they may lack their own resources to pay for it. This pilot program is fully funded by a grant and does not draw from RIPTA’s operating budget.

During its first year, 15 organizations participated in the program, helping 489 unique riders take 13,170 trips during July and August 2025.

“We saw firsthand the impact this program had in its first year, helping students access jobs, programs, and opportunities they may not have otherwise reached,” said Chief Executive Officer Christopher Durand. “We’re proud to bring this program back for a second summer, which ensures that Rhode Island’s youth has access to reliable transportation so they can move freely and confidently throughout the state.”

“The RIPTA Summer Youth Program allowed RYSE (Refugee Youth Solidarity through Education) to offer transportation to 20% of the refugee youth we served in 2026, all of whom would otherwise not have been able to access our summer literacy and leadership programming,” said RYSE Executive Director Sunni Ryan. “For a community that experiences summer learning loss and social isolation at a disproportionate rate compared to their peers, transportation is a fundamental barrier that RIPTA enabled us to overcome.”

Organizations accepted into the pilot will have access to certain RIPTA fare products at a 50% discount.

Participating organizations will be able to distribute July and August monthly passes and day passes to students using plastic or virtual Wave cards.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can click here for an online pilot program application.

Eligible organizations include:

• All Rhode Island high schools
• Youth programs and nonprofits serving high school-aged students in Rhode Island

RIPTA will accept applications from these organizations on a rolling basis until the program reaches capacity, no later than June 22, 2026.

For more information or questions, organizations can call (401) 784-9500 x1283 or email [email protected].

For more information on RIPTA’s programs and services, visit RIPTA.com or call 401-781-9400.