Image Credits: Clarke Road school website
An update on the proposed free bus pass pilot for students at Clarke Road Secondary School the plan has now taken a step forward.
After a lengthy discussion, the city’s Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee (SPPC) has voted to support launching the pilot project in September. The program would allow hundreds of Grade 9 students at Clarke Road to receive free London Transit passes during the school year, pending parental permission.
Some councillors raised concerns about whether testing the program at just one school would provide enough data. Ward Councillor Corrine Rahman questioned whether a city-wide approach would offer clearer results, while others worried about the cost and long-term impact of the program.
The Thames Valley District School Board estimates around 250 students will enter Grade 9 at Clarke Road this September, with another 250 expected in 2027. If all eligible students take part, the pilot could cost up to $1.03 million, with funding set to end in August 2028.
Despite the concerns, committee members ultimately agreed the pilot is worth testing to better understand how free transit could affect student attendance, after-school participation, and transit use.
Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis says the data collected will help guide future decisions, including whether similar programs could be expanded to other high schools across London.
The final decision now rests with the London City Council, which is scheduled to vote on the pilot program on February 10.
