As the 2025-26 school year begins, Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) and the Maryland Transportation Administration (MTA) aim to ensure that every student is prepared for a safe and smooth ride. Plan the trip, practice it, check the student's pass, and talk about respectful riding so you can ride with confidence.
MTA offers free rides for children 12 and under. City Schools students can now travel at any time using their student pass**. This change enables greater participation in after-school programs, access to part-time jobs, and other opportunities.
(**Student pass can mean ID, S-pas,s, or One Card pass).
Plan and practice the trip before you ride
Check the updated fall MTA schedules (coming soon on the MTA website). Map out your route to school and practice the trip before the first day so your student feels confident.
Connect at back-to-school events.
MTA staff will be at many back-to-school events this year. Please stop by their table with your student to ask questions, review maps, and learn more about riding safely.
Make sure your child has a student One Card pass with a photo
One Cards with a student's photo are required for fare use. Please ensure that students have a One Card with a photo ID by October 1, 2025, and remind them to use their student pass to ride the MTA.
Review the MTA rules for riders.
MTA’s new Code of Conduct sets clear expectations for respectful behavior on buses and trains. Take the time to review it so you understand what’s expected.
City Schools is collaborating with the MTA to enhance services through a Memorandum of Understanding process.