August 26, 2011 > Back to "S'Cool" with VTA Back to "S'Cool" with VTA Submitted By Brandi Childress As families start the annual ritual of shopping for back packs and supplies for the new school year, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is preparing its transit system for the increased travel demand by deploying additional vehicles to handle peak loads. VTA is also proud to introduce a new value pass for students to help families stretch their household budgets even further this year. The "S'Cool" pass provides unlimited rides on bus and light rail for a steeply discounted price. Youths (ages17 and under) who purchase the "S'Cool" pass for $75 will be saving $60 off the regular price of buying three individual monthly passes. This new discounted pass, similar to the popular Summer Blast Pass, will go on sale in September and be good for unlimited travel during the months of October, November and December. "Taking public transportation is a healthy and environmentally friendly travel option for students," said VTA General Manager Michael Burns. Numerous studies have found positive health benefits in taking public transit, as most transit users either walk or bike to get to their bus stop. The reduction in carbon emissions is critical for reducing health conditions associated with poor air quality. In addition to a healthier commute option, students will be happy to find they can be more productive when riding light rail thanks to the free 4G WiFi on board VTA's light rail vehicles. Now students using VTA Wi-Fi can download their homework assignments and YouTube videos of their summer vacation at lightning speeds. For more information about the new S'Cool pass, YOP or transit safety, please visit www.vta.org or contact VTA Customer Service at (408) 321-2300, TTY (408) 321-2330. Find us on Facebook under "SCVTA", Twitter under "SantaclaraVTA", and YouTube at www.youtube.com/scvta.