The city of St. Joseph’s summer bus program will kick off another year after more than 1800 children used the transit program last summer.

“Last summer we introduced a summer youth pass. We called it ‘My Summer Ride,'” said Mary Gaston, General Manager for St. Joseph Transit. “From the last day of school in May until school went back in August the pass was good for unlimited rides.”

Gaston said the program is coming back again this summer. Passes are currently on sale for $30 and are valid from May 12 to Aug. 13.

“We were getting calls back in March asking if we were going to have the pass again,” she said.

The pass comes with some additional perks too. This year it includes a free ticket to a Mustangs home game, one free open gym pass to the St. Joseph REC Center, One admission to the Remington Nature Center, One free swim at the Aquatic Park, and $5 off youth swim sessions or sport session at the YMCA.

“Summertime kids have more flexible schedules, they do have places they want to go, especially that teenager group. The ones who are old enough to manage themselves on transit, find out where the bus stop is and that kind of stuff but they’re not driving yet,” Gaston said. “Using the bus to get around to wherever they’re going. Wither they’re going to swimming or to the library or wherever they’re going.”

The passes are for children age 6-18 but anyone under age 9 is required to be accompanied by a rider who is at least 12-years-old.  Gaston said the hope is to get children involved in utilizing the transit system.

Tickets are being sold at St. Joseph Transit located at 702 S. 5th St., City Hall, and HyVee at the Service Desk.