Students Raise Ridership with Better Access

DORAN BARNES
CEO
Foothill Transit
West Covina, CA

Providing better access to public transit via pass programs, greater frequency, or well-positioned bus stops requires thoughtful analysis. There is one datapoint, though, that has allowed Foothill Transit to restore ridership and ensure that those customers become regulars.

Students are the most receptive demographic for our region, where Foothill Transit serves seven colleges and 23 school districts. During the school term, students make up between 8 and 10 percent of total system ridership. Easy to obtain passes geared toward students from K-12 and local two- and four-year institutions are one step toward getting them on board.

The other is easier access. Foothill Transit tested on-campus transit access at two of the region’s highest enrollment institutions: Cal Poly Pomona and Mt. San Antonio College. Cal Poly Pomona added an on-campus stop for the agency’s most popular commuter line—the Silver Streak—which provides direct access to downtown Los Angeles. Mt. San Antonio College opened a 10-bay transit center in 2023.

One of Foothill Transit’s most promising initiatives for the coming year is the establishment of a new on-campus transit center at Cal Poly Pomona, where enrollment is approximately 30,000 students. The agency already has student buy-in and increased ridership via the popular Foothill Transit Class Pass student fare program. A site for the new transit center was collaboratively selected with the college.  Design concepts centered multi-modal mobility—buses, bikes, scooters, and rideshare—that accommodates both dorm and commuter life. 

A recently awarded $20.8 million grant from FTA’s FY 2026 Bus and Bus Facility projects moves the Bronco Mobility Hub even closer to completion. The Hub is one of 34 projects the FTA is funding across 19 states and Puerto Rico. Foothill Transit and Cal Poly Pomona are incredibly grateful for the award and are looking forward to breaking ground soon.