Youth Ride Free – Summer Pilot Program – June +July 2026

Program made possible by funding from County Supervisor District 3, Diane Burgis, and County Supervisor District 5, Shanelle Scales-Preston.

We’re excited to announce the Youth Ride Free program will continue in 2026 thanks to special funding received.

Tri Delta Transit will be offering fare-free rides on all fixed route buses for youth up to 18 years of age from June 1 through July 31, 2026.
Tri MyRide and Paratransit services are not included. Riders must pay the fare when riding these services.

Young riders can hop on any fixed route Tri Delta Transit bus without needing to fill out an application, show an ID, or get a special pass. It’s easy! Just get on and go!

Goals of the Youth Ride Free Pilot Program

Throughout June and July 2026, our Youth Ride Free initiative aims to:

Enhance Mobility: Enable young people to move around freely and confidently.
Access Vital Resources: Ensure area youth can visit libraries, parks, shopping centers, and explore summer job opportunities.
Reduce Social Isolation: Foster connections among peers and encourage greater transit literacy.
Understand Travel Patterns: Help Tri Delta Transit gain insights into youth travel habits to better serve our community.

The Youth Ride Free pilot program was a great success last year with the program providing 20,000+ free rides, thereby also revitalizing youth engagement with public transit.

Remove Barriers, Roll Out the Welcome Mat

The Youth Ride Free program is being done along with our fellow transit agencies – County Connection and WestCAT (who have similar programs but not identical). Each of our agencies, 511 CCTA (formerly 511 Contra Costa) and Contra Costa Transit Authority (CCTA) will continue to think outside the box and examine the needs of our younger riders.

By removing the need for applications and passes–what some may deem as obstacles–we are opening our doors and welcome any youth (18 and under) to give our bus service a try. Fees? Gone. Show an ID? Not necessary. Fill out an application? Nope! No catch. We hope to see you on board this summer!

We do ask that if possible parents,

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Youth Ride Free?
- The Youth Ride Free program is on its second year as a pilot for any youth that is 18 and under to ride a fixed or express route Tri Delta Transit bus for free, June 1-July 31.
How will the driver know to let me on the bus for free?
- Drivers will let anyone 18 or younger board the bus for free.   If you have any worries, just identify the Youth Ride Free program.
Is there an application or fee to participate in Youth Ride Free?
- No. Anyone who is 18 and under may ride for free. Simply board any fixed route bus, no ID or pass required (though you’re welcome to flash a smile to our bus operators).
Can I ride free on any County Connection or WestCAT bus route as well?
- Yes, anyone 18 or younger can ride any fixed/express route on County Connection and WestCAT for free during June + July 2026. Each program is slightly different so please see their websites for details.
Do I need a Youth Clipper card to board?
- No. Clipper card or passes are not necessary for anyone 18 and younger to board a fixed or express route Tri Delta Transit bus during the Youth Ride Free pilot. Please note if you are transferring to BART, WestCAT, or County Connection – a Youth Clipper card is still required to receive the youth fares on their buses or trains.  However, Tri-Valley Wheels, our neighbor to the south who provides bus service to Pleasanton and Livermore, has their own Youth Ride Free program that also allows everybody 18 and younger to ride for free.
Why is there no fee or application for Youth Ride Free?
- There are programs that require fees and even applications, both of which help agencies to track ridership and promote programs. However, in an effort to boost ridership, Contra Costa agencies are exploring this program with fewer barriers since barriers have kept some of our younger riders from utilizing our bus service. This year’s program was made possible by support from County Supervisor Diane Burgis, District 3 and County Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston, District 5. We can’t thank them enough for their support of youth in the communities we serve.
Who is funding the Youth Ride Free pilot program?
- Tri Delta Transit will cover the fares of youth 18 and under who ride one of our fixed route buses in June and July of 2026. Operating buses is costly, and we see this pilot as an opportunity to provide a fare-free service (in place of Summer Youth Pass) while also researching youth ridership trends and seeking other funding opportunities.
What data are you collecting?
- We are collecting youth bus usage numbers, meaning our bus operators will record any youth boarding to help us better understand youth travel habits. Nothing for young passengers to do but board the bus (we’ll have a running tally). However, we would like to hear from those who participated in the Youth Ride Free program. Youth and parent feedback is useful to us, purely voluntary, and will help inform a possible continuation of the program in the future. Click on the short survey button that will be posted shortly and complete us to help us in planning for the future.
How will the data be used?
- The data we collect, both youth boardings and feedback gained from the opt-in surveys, will be used to see how effective a fare-free youth program has on our ridership counts. The insights from this data may be used to refine future programs and also seek long-term funding to continue a similar program in the future.
What happens when Youth Ride Free ends?
- When the Youth Ride Free pilot ends, the Pass2Class program begins. Look for details from 511 CCTA. Tri Delta Transit also encourages youth to apply for a Youth Clipper card, which will allow them to access most all Bay Area transit for half the price.
Is the Summer Youth Pass still available?
- No. Funding for the Summer Youth Pass is no longer available and the program has been discontinued. The Youth Ride Free program is intended in part to replace the Summer Youth Pass for riders, until other funding or programs can be put in place.
Is the Pass2Class program still available?
- Yes! Pass2Class is still available through 511 CCTA, and Tri Delta Transit will be participating in the program in the fall of 2026.
Why is this program only for June and July?
- Youth Ride Free is currently a pilot program to gather data on the effectiveness of youth ridership. We chose to run this pilot in June and July, when in previous years the Summer Youth Pass would have been available. With the Pass2Class program beginning in August, we can still provide free transportation throughout the full summer – which in Tri Delta Transit’s area is also the beginning of the school year.
Can college students participate in Youth Ride Free?
- If a college student is 18 or under, yes. Otherwise, college students over 18 will have to pay the regular fare.
Who should I contact if I have a question?
- Tri Delta Transit Customer Service Department is here to assist you Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. You may call 925-754-6622 or email comments@eccta.org. We’re located at 801 Wilbur Avenue, Antioch, CA 94509.

Questions or feedback about Youth Ride Free? You may also reach out to marketing@eccta.org and let us know what’s on your mind!