AllentownSchool District

Allentown School District and LANTA Announce Free Partnership

Allentown School District and LANTA Announce Free Partnership
Posted on 08/25/2022

ALLENTOWN, PA — The Allentown School District is excited to announce an expanded partnership between the district and the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA)  to provide fare-free access to any LANTA fixed route bus service to any ASD student with a valid ASD identification. 


The agreement will go into effect this year, starting the day prior to the beginning of the ASD academic year.  ASD students will be required to show their valid ASD identification for the current academic year (2022-2023) in order to use this fare-free access. 


“Like many other urban districts around the country, most Allentown students live within walking distance of their home school, but are also able to use public transportation to get to school faster or during inclement weather,” said Superintendent John Stanford. “We must work as a community in order to remove potential barriers to attendance in our schools. A fare-free system creates opportunities for more students to utilize LANTA buses, and get to school each day.” 


ASD & LANTA had previously partnered to offer $1 fares to students, which still required that tickets be purchased in advance at their school buildings. LANTA adds trips and extra buses to routes to meet the added demand from ASD students during the academic year. 


“LANTA is excited to start this partnership with ASD. Not only will it expand access for ASD students, but it will also speed up the boarding process and reduce LANTA’s logistical burden of processing the fares on the bus” said LANTA Executive Director, Owen O’Neil.


Other details in the agreement include:
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This new access is only available to current ASD students and not transferable or extended to family members or other individuals. 

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LANTA will record each boarding passenger riding fare-free with the use of a valid ASD identification. 

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Families should be aware that riders under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. An adult riding with an ASD student under twelve (12) years old will not be allowed to ride for fare-free access, unless said adult is a current ASD student. 

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Additionally,, the fare-free access program will only apply to LANTA’s fixed route bus system and cannot be used to access LANTA’s reservation-based paratransit services.


Information on these routes can be found on the LANTA website : https://lantabus.com/400s-and-323/