Public transportation is vital for student success

Valley College students turn to Metro for many reasons.

By Jasmine Alejandre, Valley Life Editor

Music major Mariia Koontz rides the Metro Orange Line bus home from Valley with her son Semiuel Perelman. Photo taken in Los Angeles, Calif. on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Astrid Cortez | Valley Star)

With 98 percent of California community college students commuting to campus, taking public transportation such as Metro, is becoming more popular. In December 2021 Valley College launched a program that allows students to ride all Metro buses and trains at no charge using a free Metro GoPass.

The Metro Go Pass program was created after the Los Angeles Community College District received a one million dollar grant. From Dec. 2021 to Sept. 2023 there were 3,424 activations of the Metro passes. According to the LACCD, these free passes save students who commute nearly $200 per semester. From Dec. 2021 to Sept. 2023 there were 3,424 activations of the Metro passes. Interested students can file and obtain a MetroCard at the Business Office and at the Welcome Center.

“I take the bus because it's too expensive to buy a car as a college student,” said Angela Curpertino, an English major. “Especially with gas and the cost of living right now.”

Data from the Energy Information Administration shows that compared to a year ago gas costs have gone up 58.7 percent. However, rising gas prices aren't the only reason students resort to public transportation.

On average 31 percent of a student's salary goes towards owning and maintaining their vehicle, which costs about $12,000. The average student earns $37,878 through work-study annually.

To have a car students must be able to pay for insurance, maintenance, gas and now starting in the spring semester- parking at Valley College.

“I started taking the Metro last year after crashing my car,” said psychology student Jenny Romani. “I didn't have the money to fix it up and sold it to somebody for almost nothing. I'm saving up money right now because it's too expensive for me to get a new one since I only work part-time for a few hours.”