Valley travels with GoPass

By: JC Rosa, Assistant Sports Editor

The Valley College Station on the corner of Burbank Boulevard and Fulton Avenue serves as one of the many transportation hubs for students on campus. Angel Silva for the Valley Star

Valley students can benefit from free transportation through the Metro GoPass program, allowing community college students to commute without the burden of transportation costs. 

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) partnered in Dec. 2021, offering a free Metro GoPass for students funded by a  $21 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration. Since the partnership came about, more than 400,000 community college students in the greater Los Angeles area have taken advantage of the opportunity. After factoring in the cost of maintenance and gas, students spend an average of $9,500 a year when traveling by car, an amount that can be saved using the pass.

“It’s definitely helpful just for getting from place to place,” said Valley student Soledad De Mucha Flores. “I use it for a wide variety of things.”

The GoPass allows students free access to ride the Metro bus and rail and regional metro systems across Southern California. Some students use the pass not only for school but to get around the city. 

Metro buses and transit lines are reliable, typically arriving at each stop every 10 to 15 minutes at peak hours of the day. Students can track their bus or transit line using the Metro app on their phone.

“I can rely on taking transit,” said Valley student Adrian Allen. “The amount of stations you can get to using the Metro GoPass really helps.”

Students can visit the Welcome Center in the Student Services Building or the Valley Business Office in the Student Union to claim a free Metro GoPass with their student ID number and a form of identification. There, they will receive a TAP card with an activation code and can receive assistance with activating the card. Students will be able to use the Metro GoPass anywhere between one and three hours after activating it. 

“It does not take long,” said Valley student Gareth Klein. “Everyone should sign up, especially if you’re already taking the bus.”

In addition to the Metro GoPass, students also qualify for the Student Adventure Pass, a pilot program that allows for free Metrolink access. Available until June 2025, this pass provides 

access to Metrolink’s seven lines criss crossing six counties across Southern California. Interested students can sign up at metrolinktrains.com/students. 

These passes ensure that no Valley College student is held back by transportation costs, offering a way to commute to school and other destinations across Los Angeles.

With the campus having five metro routes within half a mile, students have plenty of options when taking public transit. Popular buses that drop students off near campus include the Orange Line, the Van Nuys Clockwise Dash, and bus routes 154, 167 and 237. 

College financial administrator  Robert Medina said the partnership between LACCD and LA Metro can “provide other opportunities for students in the community.”

“This Metro tap card would help them [students] be able to move around the city and be able to come to campus,” said Medina.