The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Free bus fare for kids in priority schools OK’d
The legislative Transportation Committee on Monday approved legislation that would give kids in 16 underperforming, underresourced school districts free bus rides so they can access before- and afterschool jobs, sports and activities or clubs.
The bill, a referral from the Education Committee, will likely face further scrutiny later in the legislative session by the budgetwriting Appropriations Committee, because the price tag would be an estimated $2 million from the state’s fund for transportation.
But members of the transit committee on both sides of the aisle agreed that the free rides are important at a time when schools are still feeling the effects of the pandemic, with academic and mental health shortfalls that could adversely affect the futures of tens of thousands of teens and young adults.
If approved and included in the upcoming state budget, school children in those communities would be exempt from fares on stateowned or controlled buses for the two hours before school in the morning and four hours following afternoon dismissal. Eligible students would have to show bus drivers or fare inspectors their student ID cards from their local school boards. The program would start on July 1, when the next state budget year begins.
The bipartisan committee action came after discussion focused on the transit section of a much widerranging bill aimed at helping at-risk children in underperforming districts, including Ansonia, Bridgeport, Danbury, Derby, East Hartford, Hartford, Manchester, Meriden, New Britain, New Haven, New London, Norwalk, Norwich, Stamford, Waterbury and Windham. The overall legislation includes scrutiny on educational achievement and chronic absenteeism.
“Students and the adults who support them in their schools and in their homes and communities wants this desperately, because it helps them to access programs and employment, which is a key element in helping these at-risk youth,” said state Rep. Aimee Berger-Girvalo, D-Ridgefield, vice chairwoman of the Transportation Committee, who detailed the transit section of the legislation to the 36member committee.
“Obviously, the benefits of employment when you’re in a district that’s under-served are countless, but primarily, free transportation to employment helps students access a broader range of jobs; jobs that help them to build better opportunities for themselves; and this will also allow for participation in school-based extracurriculars, which are often unavailable to a student who does not have the transportation following the activities’ end.”
State Rep. Kathy Kennedy of Milford, a ranking Republican on the transit committee, said it was certainly important to the panel that the bill make it to the floor of the General Assembly for debate.
“We want to make sure that our kids are getting to school and remaining in school, and hopefully, enjoying after-school activities, such as sports and plays or anything that they are involved in,” Kennedy said, adding that school attendance improved during the COVID pandemic when free bus fares were offered. “The funding is difficult. We have to make sure we find that funding.”
The committee also approved, with little discussion, a bill unanimously approved in the Environment Committee that would align Connecticut’s policy on the application of herbicides along railroad rights-of-way to emulate the rules in neighboring Massachusetts. The legislation would require railroads to provide more information on their annual vegetation management plans presented to the state Department of Transportation and affected municipalities. Violations of the law would result in fines of no more than $90.
“Over-use of these herbicides can be problematic for the environment,” said Berger-Girvalo. Kennedy added that owners of private property adjacent to rail tracks have asked for tighter application rules.
Rail companies would have to provide more details on the type of equipment used in the herbicide applications; the timing of their applications; as well as the qualifications of those presenting annual integrated pest management plans, including plans to minimize the amount and frequency of herbicide use.