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Facinga Transportation Gap Dayton Students Scrambleas RTA Cuts Leave Many Stranded

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Monday, August 18th 2025 at 1:20 GMT by 6abc News

Dayton Public Schools (DPS) students are facing a significant hurdle at the start of the school year – a lack of reliable transportation. Following the district’s decision to discontinue providing free Regional Transit Authority (RTA) passes, many students who previously relied on public transit to get to and from school are now struggling to find alternative ways to attend classes. The situation has sparked concern among parents, educators, and community leaders, highlighting a widening gap in access to education for vulnerable populations within the city.

The abrupt shift stemmed from DPS’s budget constraints. For years, the district subsidized RTA passes for students, a program estimated to have cost around $750,000 annually. Superintendent Rhonda Corr declared the expense unsustainable, citing declining enrollment and other financial pressures. The decision, announced in May, left families with little time to adjust and has exposed the fragility of relying on public transportation as a primary means of student access.

As reported by the Dayton Daily News, the impact is being felt acutely across various neighborhoods within DPS’s service area. Students living beyond a one-mile radius from their schools – a distance deemed walkable according to district policy – are particularly affected. While DPS does offer bus routes for students residing within that zone, many families find themselves outside of those boundaries, effectively stranded without the RTA passes they had come to depend on.

The consequences extend beyond mere inconvenience. For some students, attending school now requires navigating complex and potentially unsafe routes involving multiple bus transfers or long walks, often in inclement weather. This added burden can lead to tardiness, absenteeism, and a diminished ability to focus on academics. Parents are also facing increased financial strain as they attempt to cover the cost of RTA fares – currently $2 per ride – or explore alternative transportation options like rideshares or carpooling.

The district acknowledges the problem and has attempted to mitigate its impact. DPS is offering limited bus routes for students who qualify based on specific criteria, including distance from school and documented hardship. They’ve also partnered with community organizations to provide some assistance, but these efforts are proving insufficient to address the scale of the need. The district's website now includes a transportation resource page (linked in the original article) attempting to connect families with available options.

However, the response has been largely criticized as inadequate. Many parents feel that the criteria for qualifying for limited bus service are too restrictive and leave many students behind. Furthermore, the community-based assistance programs are often overwhelmed by demand. The Dayton Education Association (DEA), the union representing DPS teachers, has voiced strong concerns about the impact on student attendance and academic performance. They argue that the decision to eliminate RTA passes disproportionately affects low-income families and exacerbates existing inequities within the school system.

The situation isn't entirely new. Prior to the free pass program, students faced similar transportation challenges. However, the widespread availability of subsidized RTA passes had significantly eased those burdens for many families over the years. Now, a return to pre-program conditions is forcing students and their families to re-evaluate how they access education.

Community organizations are stepping up to fill some of the gaps. The YMCA of Greater Dayton, for example, has launched initiatives aimed at providing safe walking routes and transportation assistance for students (as detailed in the original article). Local churches and non-profits are also organizing carpools and volunteer driver programs. These efforts demonstrate a community commitment to ensuring that all students have access to education, but they cannot fully replace the systematic support previously provided by DPS through RTA passes.

Looking ahead, the situation highlights the critical need for sustainable solutions to address student transportation challenges in Dayton. While DPS’s financial constraints are understandable, the long-term consequences of limiting access to education could be far more costly than the initial expense of providing RTA passes. The district is currently exploring alternative funding sources and potential partnerships with local businesses and organizations to explore options for restoring some level of transportation assistance. However, until a viable solution is found, many Dayton students will continue to face an uphill battle just getting to school.