April 2019 Summer Youth Pass on Earth Day!

April 10, 2019

Contact: Matt van der Linden

Public Works Director/City Engineer

City of Solvang

(805) 688-5575

SYVT to Launch Summer Youth Pass on Earth Day

Solvang, California – Santa Ynez Valley Transit (SYVT) announces the expansion of its limited-time Summer Youth Pass (SYP) to include the month of May. The twenty-dollar pass provides unlimited rides during the month of purchase and will now be available to riders six to 20 years old for use in May, June, July, and August. Passes for all months go on sale Monday, April 22, in celebration of Earth Day.

“Expanding the Summer Youth Pass to include May provides affordable and safe travel to our young residents for the entire summer,” stated Matt van der Linden, Public Works Director/City Engineer for the City of Solvang. “Students concluding their spring semester in May can now immediately use the discounted pass to safely and independently travel to their summer jobs, classes, and activities.”

SYVT will be at the Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA on Earth Day, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to launch the SYP and share ways residents can utilize public transit to help the environment. “If each resident replaced one driving trip with one trip on SYVT every two weeks, our community could significantly help reduce traffic on our roads and pollution in our air,” said van der Linden.

SYP passes will be available for purchase at the YMCA Earth Day booth, which will also have free SYVT rider information and Earth Day giveaways for all visitors. SYP passes can also be purchased by young riders, or their parents/caregivers, at the SYVT Office located at 431 Second Street, Suite 9, in Solvang. Passes will be available for purchase through August 1, 2019.

In conjunction with the SYP, the local bus system is offering a free Activities Guide to residents. This handy guide lists popular destinations and corresponding SYVT bus stops on an easy-to-read map created for children, teens, parents, and caregivers. The idea behind the free guide is to help youth foster public transportation travel skills while providing safe and fun summer break activity suggestions accessible via SYVT. The Activities Guide will be available at the Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA, Solvang Library, Santa Ynez Library, Buellton Library, and the SYVT Office beginning April 22.

SYVT is funded through a Joint Powers Agreement by the cities of Buellton and Solvang and Santa Barbara County. The daily operation of SYVT is contracted to Roadrunner Management Services. For more information about SYVT, visit www.syvt.com or call the SYVT office at (805) 688-5452.