ENRydeFreeRT: Ensuring Student Access and Opportunity
RydeFreeRT provides fare-free transit for TK–12 students and youth experiencing homelessness or in foster care thanks in part to some funding provided by local jurisdictions and districts. Since its launch in fall 2019, the program has become one of the Sacramento region’s most effective tools in supporting school attendance, safety, and access to opportunity.
In the 2025–26 school year, students took nearly 5 million rides, more than triple pre-program levels.
Why Rydefreert matters
Thousands of students and working families rely on SacRT every day to reach school, tutoring, sports, jobs, and after‑school programs. For many, transit is their only reliable transportation.
Without RydeFreeRT, many students would face new barriers that affect:
• school attendance
• personal safety
• participation in enrichment, sports, and tutoring
• access to part‑time jobs
• overall academic success
School districts benefit as well. Improved attendance supports tens of millions of dollars in state ADA funding that districts rely on each year.
How RydeFreeRT Is Funded
RydeFreeRT has two major cost components:
- Lost Fare Revenue
Students no longer pay fares. With roughly 5 million student trips per year, the annual value of fare revenue removed from the system is approximately $5.8 million. - Cost of Service
Higher ridership requires additional service, including extra buses, fuel, maintenance, and personnel.
• About 16 staff support RydeFreeRT operations
• Labor expense is approximately $2.3 million annually
• Overhead and program support add roughly $1 million
Together, these costs total approximately $9.1 million annually to operate the program. (At one point closer to $10 million, but costs decreased after the discontinuation of SmaRT Ride.)
SacRT covers the full operational cost.
Historically, cities, counties, and school districts have provided funding to offset lost fare revenue.
Current Funding Challenge
In June 2026, the SacRT Board voted to continue RydeFreeRT through June 30, 2027, while directing staff to pursue long‑term funding solutions. Lower contributions from partner jurisdictions came in at an estimated $600,000 for the 2026–27 fiscal year. This amount is separate from SacRT’s cost to operate the RydeFreeRT program, creating an even heavier burden to maintain the program.
SacRT will continue providing fare-free student rides, but sustainable funding is needed to avoid reductions in service used heavily by students.
SacRT was able to move grant funding from a different area to cover some RydeFreeRT costs for 2027 and into 2028, but that funding won’t be available after 2028.
What Happens if Funding Decreases
Reduced or eliminated funding may lead to:
• fewer buses and reduced frequency on routes heavily used by students
• increased crowding on key corridors
• new transportation barriers for students who rely on transit daily
Ending RydeFreeRT would shift costs onto families and schools, while reducing access to essential education opportunities.
Why Long‑Term Funding Matters
RydeFreeRT is a low‑cost, high‑impact program that strengthens:
• student attendance
• educational equity
• district transportation capacity
• access for low‑income, unhoused, foster, and mobility‑challenged youth
Preserving RydeFreeRT costs significantly less than addressing the consequences of reduced access.
How Advocates Can Help
RydeFreeRT has long relied on a partnership model with:
• Cities of Sacramento, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom and Rancho Cordova
• Sacramento County
• Participating school districts (SCUSD, Elk Grove, Natomas, Twin Rivers, and others)
Advocates, including students, families, PTSOs, and community leaders, can encourage these partners to continue their support and help identify new contributors.
With community support, long‑term solutions can be secured.
looking ahead
SacRT is committed to working with regional partners to maintain and strengthen RydeFreeRT beyond 2028. Additional charts, annual costs, ridership data, and partner contributions will be added to this page as they become available.
