The County of Prince Edward is pleased to announce that high school students can now ride for free on all County Transit services with a valid high school ID.
The new program supports local youth by making it easier to get to summer jobs, activities, and friends and family across the region. Free travel will be available on all County Transit services, including the two Summer Weekend Connector routes launching July 3, as well as the weekday Route 1 service between Belleville, Bloomfield, and Picton.
Any high school student, whether from a local school or another community, can ride for free. Children under 14 already ride for free.
“This is about mobility and freedom,” says Mayor Steve Ferguson. “We know young people are eager to get around independently. Free transit helps them access employment, social connections, recreation, and other opportunities.”
The launch aligns with the start of County Transit’s expanded summer weekend service on July 3, connecting Wellington, Picton, Bloomfield, and Belleville.
To ride, students simply show their high school ID when boarding. No registration or pass is required. County Transit will accept alternate proof of age (under 18) until the end of September 2026, in case students need to obtain or replace their student ID.
The program also includes County Transit’s on-demand service, available County-wide. Riders may book available seats on specialized transit vehicles that are already travelling in their area. Trips can be booked on weekdays by calling Quinte Transit the day before travel, or on the same day using the TripSpark Rides On Demand app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Free transit is also available to high school students who are registered clients and using the specialized service for people with disabilities.
County Transit encourages students and families to plan trips using Google Maps transit directions or the County Transit website. Staff will also be offering hands-on trip-planning support at community locations throughout the summer. If your youth-serving organization or club would like to receive training, contact County Transit at vdetourdonnet@pecounty.on.ca. All students benefit from safe, reliable transportation provided by professional drivers with County Transit service provider Quinte Transit.
This initiative is funded in part through the Municipal Accommodation Tax, along with the generous support of County Transit’s community partners and sponsors. The sponsor of free transit for high school students is Prinzen Ford.
For more information, route maps, and schedules, visit countytransit.ca.