It is the perfect answer to the old ‘killing two birds with one stone’ axiom when it comes to taking public transportation, at least in Pueblo.
The city’s transit system is now free to all Pueblo Community College students. It is the latest layer to the system’s effort for making commuting easier. At the same time, this added benefit also takes a few cars off the streets. The only requirement for the free ride is that students present valid PCC identification, proof of enrollment.
The new partnership is the result of a three-year pledge at $50,000 each year from the school which has an enrollment of more than 6,700 full and part time students. A PCC student can now ride the bus anytime during the transit company’s normal hours of operation.
The PCC free ride, said the school, is far more than a cost savings to students. “It’s a commitment to removing barriers and empowering students to succeed,” PCC Basic Needs Coordinator Matthew Aubuchon told The Pueblo Chieftain.
“Whether it’s getting to class, heading to work or staying connected to the community, this program ensures our students have one more reason to keep going.”
Currently, Pueblo Transit fares are $1.25 for adult riders and $1.00 for students. Over a period of a semester or academic year, the savings can be substantial.
Ben Valdez, Director of Pueblo Transit, said there are currently no hard figures substantiating how many students are taking advantage of the free rides which, he said, began with “a soft start” in September. But overall, Valdez said ridership is up and “fully recovered to pre-COVID levels.” Pueblo Transit estimates ridership at approximately 950,000 annually.
But PCC students are just the latest group in the city taking advantage of the free fares. As the school year began, all District 60 middle and high school students, with a valid school ID, have also been riding free.
Since January, veterans showing proof of service have been riding Pueblo buses free of charge. Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham downplays the effort. “Pueblo Transit’s Veterans ride free is a small token of thanks for the service to our country,” she said. Graham also hopes that more veterans will begin taking advantage of the effort and that this month’s Veterans Stand Down event will draw attention to it.
Veterans Stand Down is set for November 24th at the Pueblo Workforce Center at 1045 W. 6th Street. It is an outreach event designed to connect veterans with not only transportation options but to also make it easier for them to make VA doctors’ appointment or simply complete everyday tasks.
Pueblo has carried the designation “Home of Heroes,” since former Congressman Scott McInnis had it officially entered into the Congressional Record in 1993. The Pueblo City Council officially adopted it a short time later.
The ‘home of heroes’ reference came about as a result of Pueblo once having four living recipients of the Medal of Honor living in the same hometown. The city has also established a ‘Medal of Honor Plaza’ outside of the convention center.
