LA Metro's GoPass Program Provides Free Transit for 17,000 Students in Two Districts

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has made a significant move to enhance student mobility by expanding its GoPass program. In collaboration with WSS, the initiative supports nearly 17,000 students enrolled in the Lynwood Unified and Inglewood Unified School Districts for the 2025-2026 academic year. By providing these students with unlimited free access to Metro's transit services as well as those of 18 other participating municipal transit operators, the program is poised to eliminate transportation barriers, enabling students to focus on their education, employment, and community engagement.

This program embodies Metro's ongoing commitment to fostering equitable access to transportation, an essential factor for academic success. The initiative comes as part of a broader strategy aimed at ultimately boosting student graduation rates. Fernando Dutra, Metro Board Chair and Whittier City Councilmember, emphasized the critical role that reliable public transit plays in students’ academic journeys, stating, "Students who have access to public transit are more likely to graduate," and underscoring that the GoPass ensures that students maintain access to educational opportunities.

The expanded GoPass partnership builds on the successful sponsorship from the previous school year, where WSS provided support for approximately 11,000 students at Lynwood Unified. Last year, these students collectively took over 42,000 rides from July 2024 to May 2025 through the GoPass initiative. This year, WSS’s involvement continues to showcase the company’s commitment to addressing the needs of students and communities. As stated by Patrick Gittisriboongul, Ed.D, superintendent for the Lynwood Unified School District, "We are incredibly grateful to WSS for continuing to support the GoPass program, which plays a vital role in ensuring that transportation is never a barrier to education for our students."

Providing free access to public transportation is not just about transit; it also deeply influences students' opportunities to engage in extracurricular activities, connect with regional resources, and ultimately, foster a sense of community. The GoPass initiative is available at over 1,600 K-12 schools and community colleges across 133 participating school districts, including not only Lynwood and Inglewood but also prominent school districts such as Los Angeles Unified and Long Beach Unified. This extensive network of support is crucial for cultivating an environment wherein students can thrive emotionally and academically.

The partnership has substantial implications for procurement within the transit industry. Organizations that provide transit services, community outreach, or student engagement programs should keep tabs on evolving opportunities like this partnership. Metro's focus on expanding transit access for students heralds a positive trend for potential investments that support initiatives similar to the GoPass program. Now more than ever, with such programs garnering support from both the public sector and private entities like WSS and its parent company Foot Locker, Inc., procurement professionals should position themselves strategically to engage with Metro and local school districts to expand outreach and services in this domain.

Similarly, transit agencies and contractors specializing in community mobility solutions should explore innovative ways to collaborate with educational institutions and Metro to enhance similar initiatives. With the current partnership model proving beneficial, the potential for further growth in transit-related partnerships aimed at educational access and community development is significant.

As part of this effort, participating schools distribute TAP cards and activation codes to students, allowing them to utilize transit services effortlessly. Students can activate these cards on the online GoPass portal, which empowers them with the mobility they need to succeed.

In summary, the expanded GoPass program marks another step toward dismantling transport-related barriers for students in Los Angeles and highlights a growing trend in public-private partnerships focused on education. The procurement landscape for transit-related services will likely see increased demand as these successful partnership models take precedence and evolve.