Kids Ride Free Program
Did you know that public charter school students in Washington, DC are able to ride the city’s public transportation system, including Metrobus, the DC Circulator, and Metrorail for FREE to and from school and school-related activities?
The Kids Ride Free Program (KRF), established by Mayor Muriel Bowser, ensures that enrolled DC student residents are able to travel within the District at no cost.
To be eligible for the KRF program, each student must meet the following criteria:
- Be a resident of the District of Columbia OR a youth in the care of the District;
- Be between the ages of five and 21; and
- Be enrolled in an elementary, or secondary public, charter, or parochial school in the District
At the start of the 2022-23 school year, new SmarTrip cards will be sent directly to all DC public and charter schools for distribution to eligible students. Cards from the 2021-2022 SY will remain valid through September 30, 2022.
Once received, students will need to ensure that they always carry their card with them—otherwise they will have to pay the regular fare. When boarding Metrobus or the DC circulator, they will simply need to tap the KRF SmarTrip card on the fare box or the fare gate when using Metrorail.
For more information, please visit the Kids Ride Free Frequently Asked Questions or you can contact your school's ID Administrator or the District Department of Transportation's School Transit Subsidy Program Office at (202) 673-1740 or school.transit@dc.gov.
