Special to The Dallas Examiner
Starting this month, Dallas County Community College District students – whether they are taking credit or continuing education classes – will be able to use their free DART Student GoPass for classes and travel around town. The pass promotes more riders on DART, which means fewer students on the road, better air quality and fewer gallons of gasoline consumed.
DCCCD students are eligible for the free DART Student GoPass if they are enrolled in six or more credit hours for either the fall or spring semester; they must be enrolled in three or more credit hours during the summer semester.
Continuing education students who attend any of DCCCD’s colleges also can obtain the free pass if they are enrolled in 96 or more contact hours during the first, second or third quarter of the academic year; they must be enrolled in 48 or more contact hours for the fourth quarter.
The district’s board of trustees approved funds totaling $1.2 million earlier this year to provide free passes for eligible students at all DCCCD colleges.
El Centro College, with no campus parking, has historically been the only college that provides free semester DART passes to its students who qualified. They will continue the current program until the summer, when the college switches to the DART Student GoPass.
“Student success is a key priority for the Dallas County Community College District. We know that removing barriers gives our students a chance to go to college, earn a credential and start a career. Transportation is a big barrier for many of our students, and our partnership with DART to provide a Student GoPass to those who are eligible is one way to remove that obstacle,” said Dr. Joe May, DCCCD’s chancellor.
DCCCD students using the DART mobile app for their Student GoPass will be able to ride all local DART bus routes, light rail and 1 Zone on the Trinity Railway Express – Union to Centrepoint stations. The pass is not valid on special services designated by DART, such as flyer service, airport service and charter service.
Pass holders can also use their pass to visit other locations or attend events throughout the DART service area – including a visit to the downtown area, the Dallas Zoo, a flight at DFW Airport and other stops along the way.
For questions about the pass, visit dcccd.edu/GoPass. For information about routes and schedules for buses and light rail that serve DCCCD, visit dcccd.edu/DART.