Transit Tickets & Passes

Thanks to the Youth Opportunity Pass and Student Adventure Pass programs, most of SoCal's transit is now free for students like you! Check the table below to see which free student transit product you need, and follow these simple steps to get set up quickly.

Youth Opportunity Pass

The Youth Opportunity Pass is available as a free one-time upgrade to an existing physical PRONTO card or app. You can use it to pay for all MTS and NCTD fixed-route services - including the bus, Trolley, and COASTER or SPRINTER trains.

Step 1: Get a PRONTO card or app

With a smartphone: download the PRONTO - San Diego app from the App Store or Google Play Store. You'll need to set up a PRONTO account using a personal - not sandi.net - email address.

Without a smartphone: pick up a PRONTO card from the counselor's office or MTS Transit Store (see step 2 instructions) for free, or buy one from a station ticket vending machine for $2. Then, create an account online at ridepronto.com and register your card.

Step 2: Prove your age with MTS

Bring your school ID or another photo ID with your birth date on it to the MTS Transit Store at the 12th & Imperial Transit Center (1255 Imperial Avenue), a short walk or Trolley ride away from SDHS. You can get a free PRONTO card there or upgrade an existing physical or virtual card to a Youth card. Applications submitted at the Transit Store will be processed immediately - so you'll be ready to ride!

OR

• Log into your PRONTO account and click “Apply for Youth, Senior, Disabled Pass” in the options on the left.
• Read and agree to the terms and conditions, then select “I have a PRONTO card” > "Youth" and type in your name and birthdate.
• Type in your email address and check that email for a code and type that into the form.
• Upload a picture or scanned copy of a photo ID with your birth date on it, a school ID, OR a screenshot of your SDUSD Canvas profile. Next, either upload a profile picture or take a live selfie (make sure you show your face). Then submit it.

Once you’re done, you will either get approved automatically or you may have to wait for a staff person at MTS to look at your application (this could take 2-10 days). You can check if your account has successfully changed to Youth by logging in and looking to see if your virtual purple PRONTO card says “Youth” at the top.

Step 3: Tap or scan every ride, every time

Make every ride count and tap or scan your PRONTO card when boarding the bus, or before boarding Trolley, SPRINTER, or COASTER. It doesn't cost you anything and helps MTS keep track of how many people are riding transit and where they're riding from. Plus, not having a validated fare means you could be subject to penalties - up to and including a legal citation or removal from the system.

Student Adventure Pass

Want to go beyond the San Diego region? Metrolink's Student Adventure Pass has you covered. Unlike the Youth Opportunity Pass, the Student Adventure Pass is more like a "cheat code" that lets you print out free Metrolink tickets.

Remember: Metrolink offers daily departures northbound from the Oceanside Transit Station, so you'll need to use Route 101, another BREEZE bus, or the COASTER train to get there - or get a ride from a parent or friend.

Printing a ticket

You can only print Metrolink tickets at the Oceanside Transit Station, and you must print your ticket on the day of travel, so make sure to give yourself enough time. Metrolink ticket machines are located on the station concourse (directly opposite the Amtrak customer service center), and just outside the tunnel to Metrolink boarding (between the COASTER and SPRINTER platforms, near the PRONTO ticket machines).

You must select the destination station you plan to get off at. If you pick the wrong station, your ticket won't be valid past that station, and local bus operators at your actual destination may not honor your ticket.

Once you select a destination station, press the minus sign button in the "Adult" row until no adult tickets are being purchased. Then, press the plus sign button in the "Student/Youth" row. Then, press the "Print Ticket" button and a free ticket will be dispensed.

You must purchase a Metrolink ticket for EVERY trip, and always have your Metrolink ticket and student ID ready for inspection while onboard. Tickets are only valid until 2am the next day.

Transferring to LA Metro

Your Metrolink ticket is valid on ALL Metro Bus, Metro Rail, and Metro Busway services - including Metro Rapid - as long as the destination station printed on your ticket is within LA County!

Metro Local, Metro Rapid, and the Metro J Line: Show the driver your Metrolink ticket when you board.

Metro Rail stations without fare gates, and the Metro G Line: Have your Metrolink ticket ready for random inspection.

Metro Rail stations with fare gates: Pick a gate with a red barcode reader and scan the QR code on your Metrolink ticket. If you have any issues with fare gates, use the blue TAP Gate Help intercom located near each gate line.

Transferring to local buses

Once you get to your destination, your Student Adventure Pass is valid for free transfers to many local bus operators across SoCal. The following bus operators honor unlimited, all-day transfers from Metrolink - just show your Metrolink ticket when you board. Keep in mind that some operators will only honor Metrolink tickets on local bus services, not commuter routes.

• Antelope Valley Transit Authority
• Baldwin Park Transit
• Beach Cities Transit
• BurbankBus
• Carson Circuit
• City of Monterey Park Spirit Bus
• Culver CityBus
• Foothill Transit
• Glendale Beeline
• Gardena GTrans
• LA County Department of Public Works
• Long Beach Transit
• LADOT DASH
• Montebello Bus Lines
• Norwalk Transit
• Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority
• Pasadena Transit
• Santa Clarita Transit
• Torrance Transit

If the bus operator you want to transfer to isn't on this list, they might still offer limited free rides to/from the train station! You can see a full list of participating transfer operators here (opens in a new tab).