Los Angeles Metro's GoPass broadens its collaboration with WSS to provide complimentary and limitless public transit rides for 17,000 students.
Expanded GoPass Program Offers Free Transit to Over 250,000 Students in Los Angeles
In a significant move to support students and communities, the retailer WSS has expanded its sponsorship of the L.A. Metro's GoPass Program. For the 2025-26 school year, over 250,000 students across 19 participating municipal transit operators will have access to free, unlimited transit rides.
Last school year, WSS sponsored GoPasses for approximately 11,000 students at Lynwood Unified. This year, the number of students benefiting from the program has significantly increased, with nearly 17,000 students in Lynwood Unified and Inglewood Unified school districts set to enjoy the expanded sponsorship.
The GoPass Program aims to provide a GoPass to every student that needs one, enabling them to ride transit to school, extracurricular activities, or work without worrying about fares. Since its inception in 2021, more than half a million students have used GoPass to get around.
Students can activate their GoPass cards online, by phone, or use a virtual TAP card on the TAP LA App. Participating schools distribute TAP cards and activation codes for students to use public transit. The Los Angeles Community College District and Long Beach Community College District are also part of the GoPass Program.
Fernando Dutra, Whittier City Councilmember and L.A. Metro Board Chair, stated that many students rely on public transit to get to school, and that GoPass ensures students have the access they need to graduate. L.A. Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins states that public transportation is a critical element contributing to student success.
The GoPass Program provides students with greater opportunities to attend school consistently, participate in enrichment programs, and connect with resources across the region. The Los Angeles Unified School District and Long Beach Unified School District are among the participating school districts.
This partnership between WSS and L.A. Metro is aimed at providing support to the communities and people that need it most. Fernando Dutra highlighted that the GoPass Program is not just about transportation; it's about giving students the opportunity to succeed.
In the 2024-25 school year, Lynwood students took over 42,000 rides under the GoPass Program. With the expansion, these numbers are expected to rise, making a tangible impact on the lives of students across Los Angeles.
- Technology can play a crucial role in activating GoPass cards, as students can activate their cards online or use a virtual TAP card on the TAP LA App, thereby making transit more accessible and modernizing the transportation industry.
- Education-and-self-development can be augmented by the expanded GoPass Program, as students now have the means to attend various extracurricular activities, broadening their horizons, and enhancing their lifestyle choices.
- Finance is one of the key areas where the GoPass Program is making a significant impact, as it removes the financial burden of transportation fares from students, allowing them to allocate their resources towards tuition fees, books, and other essential needs within their lifestyle.
