Student Free Fare Program

What is the Student Free Fare Program?

The Keep Oregon Moving Act (House Bill 2017) provides statewide funding for public transportation service from a payroll tax of one-tenth of one percent on wages paid to employees. Proceeds from the payroll tax are deposited into the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF). The STIF Formula Fund is intended to expand and improve public transportation services for current and future transit users. 1% of all funds allocated to transit agencies is to be spent on addressing the needs of young people.

In January 2020 CAT introduced the Student Free Fare Program which provides free fixed-route Gorge Annual Transit Passes to Hood River County School District Middle School and High School Students.

Who is eligible?

All Hood River County School District Middle School or High School students are eligible for one free Student Gorge Pass per school year. Specifically, this includes middle and high students who attend Wy’East Middle School, Hood River Valley Middle School, Hood River Valley High School, and Hood River Options Academy.

How do I get my student a Gorge Pass?

For school year 2026-2027 students can pick up a pass at their school’s back to school resource fair or Open House. Students can visit their school office to get a Gorge Pass or the CAT office at 224 Wasco Loop in Hood River. If students choose to pick up a Gorge Pass at the CAT office, they should be accompanied by a parent or guardian and have their school ID. These passes will be good through September 30, 2027

Which services can my student use with the Student Gorge Pass?

CAT’s fixed route services include the Hood River City Route, Upper Valley, Gorge-To-Mountain Express, and the Columbia Gorge Express. Check out the schedules and routes by clicking on Ride CAT at the top of the webpage. These routes offer a wide variety of options to get students where they may need to go within Hood River County. Additionally, this pass is now accepted by 3 other transit services (The Link, Skamania County Transit, and Mt. Adam’s Transportation Service). To learn more about the places that your student can access with the Gorge Pass and the different transit providers that accept the pass please visit www.gorgepass.com. If your student needs help learning how to use the fixed route system, please reach out to CAT staff at (541)386-4202 for travel training assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Q: Is the student Gorge passes an accepted fare for Dial-A-Rides?
A: No, if your student would like to use the Dial-A-Ride services, they will need to show the pass and pay $1 to the driver when they board the bus.

Q: Can students schedule a Dial-A-Ride service for going to or from school?
A: Students can schedule up to two weeks in advance to be picked up or dropped off at a specific address. Or they can get on and off at one of the regular CAT bus stops without calling to make a reservation. Dial-A-Ride information and policies can be found here.

Q: Can my student schedule a Dial-A-Ride service when they are not going to or from school?
A: Yes, but they will need to pay an extra $1 with their pass and schedule up to two weeks in advance by calling (541) 386-4202.

Q: My student needs to go to the Options Academy; how can they get there?
A: Your student can take the Hood River City Route. When they get on the bus, they will need to let the driver know. The driver will stop at the stop sign at Eugene Street and Park Street and let your student off the bus. Your student will then need to walk the short way to the Options Academy.

Contact Information