Rochester Public Schools and Rochester Public Transit have partnered to offer fare-free bus rides to all high school students and their families in Rochester, Minnesota, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the end of June 2026.

The pilot covers school days and aims to ease commutes to school, extracurriculars, and jobs, while improving access, safety, and reducing transportation costs for families.

The program began in early April 2026 and is designed to ease transportation barriers for lower-income families and boost attendance and engagement.

Families accompanying students can also ride for free.

Students can ride free by presenting their school ID, with service available on city buses during the designated hours.

The initiative reflects a broader national trend of cities exploring enhanced transit accessibility for students and underserved groups, potentially informing future policy decisions.

Key stakeholders in the initiative are Rochester Public Schools and Rochester Public Transit.

This initiative represents a collaboration between a public school district and a city transit agency to enhance educational access for high school students.

The district will collect data to evaluate the program and determine whether to continue, expand, or modify it based on outcomes.

Participating students who switch routes should contact the RPS Transportation Department to be removed from their current bus routes.

RPS emphasizes supporting families as students begin using the new transportation option.

The program seeks to broaden transit use among underserved populations and has potential broader implications for public transportation policy.