Denver City Wire

Community College of Denver (CCD) will provide students and employees with free Regional Transportation District (RTD) EcoPasses.

"CCD has been offering free EcoPasses for students and employees since Spring 2021 and will continue to do so through June 30, 2023," Executive Director of Strategy Kristina Retana said, Denverite reported.

Regional Transit District Denver (RTD Denver) provided a Zero Fare month in August as part of the Zero Fare for Better Air project.

Thanks to SB22-180, the Zero Fare for Better Air Initiative was created in collaboration with the Colorado Energy office. In part, the law stated: "The act creates the ozone season transit grant program (program) in the Colorado energy office (office). The program provides grants to the regional transportation district (RTD) and transit associations in order to provide free transit services for at least 30 days during ozone season."

The Denverite reported about how students at Denver's colleges and institutions would continue to get some financial assistance for transportation. The RTD Mobile CollegePass, which provides free access to local, regional and airport bus and train services through Jan. 31, 2023, will be given to students at MSU Denver, the University of Colorado Denver, and the Community College of Denver. 

Among the provisions of the Zero Fare for Better Air Initiative states that a transport organization awarded a grant may distribute the funds to deserving transit agencies. Qualified transit organizations may use the funds to offer new or enhanced free transportation services for at least 30 days during the ozone season. During the ozone season, the RTD may utilize grant funds to pay up to 80% of the expenses associated with offering free transit for at least 30 days on all of its routes.

With the price of petrol hovering around $5 per gallon, using public transportation allows for saving more money on a daily basis. Additionally, it is projected that using public transit annually saves 6 billion gallons of gasoline.