In a move to make education more accessible and ease the financial burden on families, the South Australian Government has revealed a substantial reduction in the cost of public transportation for school students. Starting today, the new fare for the metroCARD 28-day student pass is set at just $10, a huge decrease from the previous price of $28.60.
This new pricing strategy means that students using the bus, train, or tram for school commutes will now spend around 25 cents per trip, saving families up to $242 annually for each child using the service. This adjustment is part of a broader commitment by the government to reduce living costs for families, backed by an allocation of $20.7 million over the next four years as detailed in the recent State Budget.
Treasurer Stephen Mullighan shared, “This Government is delivering targeted cost of living relief to South Australian families.
“We’re allowing school kids to catch unlimited public transport over 28 days for just $10. This means a child catching the bus or train to school each day will pay the equivalent of a 25-cent fare.
“This policy will encourage more children to catch public transport and will also make it far easier for parents and caregivers to get to work and stay at work rather than be interrupted by the school run.”
The state government is also taking steps to improve the safety and security of public transport. New measures, also effective from today, include nation-leading powers to address criminal and anti-social behaviour on public transport systems. These measures allow for indefinite bans to be imposed on passengers who engage in such behaviours.
The reduced fare initiative comes alongside other financial relief measures that the government has been promoting. These include extending a $200 reduction on schools and materials service charges and continuing the sports voucher program. These efforts could help a family with two school-aged children save approximately $1084 over the next year.
By making public transport more affordable, the government seeks to increase its usage among school children, helping to decongest roads during peak hours and contributing to environmental sustainability. The financial savings for families are seen as a direct benefit, but the long-term advantages may include more consistent school attendance and reduced traffic-related stress for parents and caregivers.
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