May 9, 2023 – The Decatur City Council approved an agreement with Richland Community College to provide free public transportation for their students.
Richland students can now ride city buses for free without restrictions as long as they have a valid school ID. The college is reimbursing Decatur Public Transit for all rides, so students can have access to transportation at all times (whether they are traveling to class, work, or anywhere in the community).
The program is made possible by the Richland Community College Foundation.
“We have been working for years to alleviate the transportation barriers many students face,” said Julie Melton, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Richland. “Originally, we offered them bus tokens & passes, but we determined we needed to offer something that would be even more accessible to our diverse student population. This partnership with Decatur Transit Authority will not only impact our students but our community as a whole.”
Lacie Elzy, Transportation Services Director for the City of Decatur, said, “We are excited to continue growing these partnerships with our educational institutions. Agreements like this are the first step in eliminating transportation barriers and promoting equity for the families in our community.”
