RMTD expands free rides program to include college students and adult learners in Rockford

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Students enrolled at a local post-secondary education institution or an adult high school equivalency program will be able to ride Rockford Mass Transit District buses for free starting next month.

The city of Rockford and RMTD announced on Wednesday that the new program will begin on Feb. 1. Students can ride for free if they have a valid ID for the spring semester from Rock Valley College, Rockford Career College, Rockford University, Northern Illinois University Rockford, Judson, Rasmussen, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford or OSF Saint Anthony College of Nursing.

Adults enrolled in GED or high school equivalency programs offered by RVC, Rockford Public Schools and Goodwill can also ride for free through passes that will be distributed by program providers.

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“This is yet another step in RMTD’s effort to help reduce barriers and improve access to employment, education, health care, food sources and other services in our community,” RMTD Executive Director Michael Stubbe said. 

The city of Rockford increased its funding to RMTD to offset any losses of farebox revenue for the transportation organization. The city’s annual funding increased by about $321,000 to $1.87 million for this fiscal year. The funding also provides for previously launched programs such as free rides for veterans and K-12 students on the fixed route system. RMTD receives $1.85 from the state for every dollar the city provides.

“We know we have a whole host of needs in our city, and we know that our residents have barriers to help them fulfill those needs, especially when it comes to education,” Mayor Tom McNamara said. “Our feeling at the city of Rockford is if you are working to improve yourself, we should be there right alongside you. We should make it as easy as possible for you to improve yourself.”

Tricia Wagner, director of adult education for Rock Valley College, said many students learn to use the bus system while attending RVC and become regular users.

“For an RVC adult education student, having a bus pass means having an answer,” Wagner said. “Because of this extraordinary initiative, our adult education learners will arrive to class warmer, more rested and carrying less anxiety because they will be carrying a ticket to ride.”

RMTD implemented several service changes in September to help improve access to education and training institutions. Those changes include more regular access to Rockford University’s campus, a route extension to the AAR Corp. and RVC Aviation Center at the Chicago Rockford International Airport, a route change to provide regular access to NIU Rockford on East State Street and a route change to provide direct access to Rock Valley College’s main campus from the city’s east side.

Previous changes from RMTD were designed to provide better access to Hard Rock Casino, AMC Movie Theater, Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital Riverside, PCI on Linden Road, and the UPS and Amazon facilities at the Chicago Rockford International Airport.

Stubbe said RMTD will monitor ridership with the launch of the free rides program to determine if further changes are needed in the coming year.

RMTD provided more than 35,000 free rides to veterans and more than 12,000 free rides to K-12 students last year. Its fixed route ridership totaled more than 1.2 million rides and its complimentary paratransit service provided nearly 100,000 rides.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas