To make the start of the school year a little easier for students and families, Santa Maria Regional Transit will offer free rides on local SMRT routes to local high schools and Allan Hancock College for two weeks in August.

Starting on Aug. 11 and continuing through Aug. 22, aligning with the first two weeks of school in Santa Maria, the free ride aims to help make school commuting easier for students and parents/guardians.

"SMRT has seen an average of 22 percent increase in ridership year-over-year the last four years. Public transit has been particularly popular with families with high school and junior high students,” said Transit Services Manager Gamaliel Anguiano.

All of Santa Maria’s high schools are served by public transit. Options include:

Pioneer Valley High School: served

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