The Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority (StanRTA) announced last week that all journeys will be free for passengers in August and September 2021 as part of a return to promoting public transport. This includes all fixed routes; MAX to BART Commuter Express; MAX to ACE Commuter Express; StaRT’s BART commuter bus services; and ADA Paratransit, Medivan and Dial-a-Ride services.

“With the merger of Modesto Area Express (MAX) and Stanislaus Regional Transit (StaRT) to form the new StanRTA, we are delighted to invite riders to return to public transport with free rides now that many COVID- restrictions 19 were lifted, ”said Adam Barth, director of operations and planning at StanRTA. “We want to let the community know that public transit is safe and that it is there for them, whether they are new or seasoned.”

The aim of promoting free travel is to reduce the use of single occupant vehicles with the aim of reducing traffic jams, pollution and countless hours wasted on highways. Public transport ridership has declined since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. StanRTA hopes to use the free rides to reassure the community that public transportation is safe.

“The MAX and StaRT buses are sanitized nightly with a hospital-grade sanitizer and face masks are required by the Federal Transit Administration until Sept. 13, regardless of vaccination status,” Barth said.

Residents are encouraged to make the most of this free ride promotion by planning their trips in advance. Trip planning tools are available on the websites of transit operators, as well as through smartphone apps like Google Maps and an app called Transit. These tools make it easy to determine the nearest bus stop, the right route, and access real-time bus arrival information.

All of the county’s transit buses are accessible to people with disabilities, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

For more information on StanRTA, visit www.stanrta.org. In addition, routes and timetables for public transport services are available at www.modestoareaexpress.com and www.srt.org. The public is also invited to attend StanRTA’s Board of Directors meetings which are held on the fourth Thursday of each month at 1 p.m.