TriMet Passes For Private School Students Too?

The Multnomah County Youth Commission is calling for an expansion of a recently-passed plan that provides free bus passes in the city to Portland public high school students. The commission wants to extend the free passes to private and alternative school kids, according to this story in the Catholic Sentinel.

In drawing up the original plan, the commission sought to give students the ability to become more involved in their schools and communities as well as to relieve financially strained families of burdensome transportation expenses. The plan came together in the fall with the help of the city of Portland, Portland Public Schools and Tri-Met, and extends itself to any family no matter their income.

As the Sentinel reports, another aim of the YouthPass program is to reduce carbon emissions from driving trips. And a major portion of the program's funding comes from the sale of controversial Business Energy Tax Credits, or BETCs.