Riders who usually pay the $3 fee for an All Day bus pass will receive one for no cost on Wednesday.
Gainesville’s Amalgamated Transit Union and Regional Transit System are pairing up to provide this Fare Free Day to bring attention to a transportation bill, the MAP-21 Reauthorization Act, going through Congress. Riders can get a pass at the Rosa Parks RTS Downton Station or on the bus.
Among other things, MAP-21 provides funding for facilities, new program starts and buses, wrote Chip Skinner, RTS marketing and communications supervisor, in an email interview.
The bill will provide long-term funding that will give state and local governments the opportunity to improve and expand the nation’s transportation infrastructure, according to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works’ website
Cassandra Roldan, a 23-year-old Gainesville resident, said she regularly buys an All Day pass.
Roldan said she appreciates the bus system providing this service, but thinks there should be more done to market the event.
“They should advertise it on the bus,” she said.
[A version of this story ran on page 1 on 5/20/2014 under the headline "Free RTS on Wednesday to bring awareness of new bill"]
