Perspective
How College Students Can Help Save Public Transit
Programs that offer unlimited bus and train rides for those enrolled in colleges and universities can breed a new generation of transit fans.
The SEPTA train station on the campus of Swarthmore College in May 2023.
Photographer: Laurence Kesterson/Swarthmore CollegeBack when I attended Swarthmore College, a liberal arts school nestled in the Philadelphia suburbs, most of my student days were spent within the cozy confines of its compact, bucolic campus. But a few times a year I would stroll to the adjacent SEPTA rail station, paying around $15 to ride a regional train into Philadelphia to see a concert, grab a meal or just soak in the big city vibes.
I loved visiting Philly, but, being on a budget, the fare was a deterrent.