(The following editorial appeared on the Philadelphia Inquirer website on August 16.)
PHILADELPHIA — It was a fare deal – make that a great deal. Middle and high school students in Philadelphia will this year begin getting free public transportation to take them to and from school.
Gov. Rendell and State Sen. Vince Fumo (D., Phila.) this week announced that they had arranged for students – in public, private and charter schools – who live more than a mile and a half from their school to get free SEPTA passes valid during class hours. Students who live closer can get discounted passes.
While younger children ride the yellow buses, 32,000 city students in grades 7 through 12 ride SEPTA to and from school.
About 18,000 of those 32,000 bought tokens at a subsidized rate of $1 each. An additional 14,000 received free tokens. All students – like all SEPTA riders – had received free transfers.
But SEPTA recently decided to eliminate transfers as part of a long-term modernization project. Modernize, SEPTA must. Officials failed, however, to prepare for the impact of what amounted to a fare hike for cash-strapped students.
The situation was especially urgent because the new school year begins in about three weeks. Thank goodness a resolution was reached to help a total of about 36,000 children in Philadelphia before the first school bell rings.
One head-scratching historical detail remains. Fumo said Philadelphia students were the only ones left in the state who did not get free transportation to and from school. How did that inequity develop and survive? Moreover, are there other public policies that add to the challenge of getting older children to go to school?
The city and state should help children by removing obstacles to education – like giving them free transit to school.