Students from four local high schools and six local junior high schools will be provided with a free annual transit pass under the Student Transit Pass Pilot Program, to use on all Halifax Transit conventional buses, Access-A-Bus, and ferries up until June 30, 2024.
Participating schools and grades are:
- Woodlawn High School – Grades 10-12
- Dartmouth High School – Grades 9-12
- École secondaire du Sommet – Grades 9-12
- École secondaire Mosaïque – Grades 9-12
- Bicentennial School, Grades 7-9
- Caledonia Junior High, Grades 7-9
- Dartmouth South Academy, Grades 7-8
- Ellenvale Junior High, Grades 7-9
- Eric Graves Memorial Junior High, Grades 7-9
- John Martin Junior High, Grades 7-9
The Student Transit Pass Pilot Program was first approved by Halifax Regional Council in May 2021. It has since been approved for extension twice, including the most recent extension which was approved on December 12, 2023.
Participating schools were selected based on their proximity to existing transit routes and concentrated student population.
Common Questions
- What is the Student Transit Pass Pilot Program?
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The Student Transit Pass Pilot Program was approved by Halifax Regional Council in May 2021. Through this program, students from four local high schools and six local junior high schools are provided with a free, annual transit pass to use on all Halifax Transit conventional buses, Access-A-Bus, and ferries, until June 30, 2024.
- How do students use the pass?
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Students are required to show their student transit pass to a bus Operator or a member of Ferry Security Staff when boarding a bus or ferry.
Students travelling on Regional Express buses (Routes 320, 330, and 370) are required to pay an additional $1.00 fare with the presentation of their student transit pass. - How will students receive their pass?
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Student transit passes will be distributed by each school's administration offices.
- I do not wish for my child to receive a free Halifax Transit annual pass. What do I do?
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Parents and guardians may discuss their concerns directly with their child's school administration office.
- Do the Student Transit passes provide access to Access-A-Bus?
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Student Transit passes will provide students free access to Access-A-Bus services. Students who wish to become Access-A-Bus clients will need to apply to Access-A-Bus before becoming a passenger on this service. To register, complete the Access-A-Bus application form found here. Only those students who meet the qualifications to become Access-A-Bus clients will gain access to this service.
For more information about Halifax Transit’s Access-A-Bus service, please visit the Access-A-Bus webpage, contact Access-A-Bus at 902-490-6999, or email contactus@311.halifax.ca.
- Is Regional Express service included in the Student Transit Pass Pilot Program?
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Students travelling on Regional Express buses (Routes 320, 330, and 370) are required to pay an additional $1.00 fare with the presentation of their student transit pass.
- What will happen if a student loses their Transit Pass?
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If a student loses their Student Transit Pass, they should go to their school’s administration office to receive a replacement.
- Will the Student Transit Pass Pilot Program be extended to the rest of the schools in the municipality?
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Halifax Transit's Student Transit Pass Pilot Program will be reevaluated in spring 2024 regarding the future of the program.
Additional Educational and Safety Information – How to Ride Halifax Transit
As part of our ongoing commitment to a create an accessible and inclusive transit system for all, we welcome you to enjoy How to Ride: A Guide to Using Halifax Transit, a collection of easy-to-follow guides and videos in multiple languages that cover information about how to:
• Access bus route maps and schedules
• Plan a trip on buses and ferries
• Pay fares and transfer
• Ride safely
This series of guides and videos have been designed to help familiarize new users with how to access the Halifax Transit network. Learn more here.
Feel free to also browse our Passenger Information pages where you will find Passenger Courtesy, Prohibited Conduct, Policies & Guidelines, and Safety Information.
Passengers, including students, may also call 311 or email contactus@311.halifax.ca for more information about Halifax Transit services.