{"id":155229,"date":"2019-06-02T08:57:57","date_gmt":"2019-06-02T13:57:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.metrostlouis.org\/?p=155229"},"modified":"2024-02-29T09:59:28","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T15:59:28","slug":"gateway-go-returns-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.metrostlouis.org\/nextstop\/gateway-go-returns-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Gateway Go Returns This Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Gateway<\/a><\/p>\n

The Gateway Go Card, which provides area youth a 50 percent discount to ride MetroLink and MetroBus returns this summer.<\/p>\n

Following the success of the pilot program last summer<\/a>, the program aims to once again provide mobility and independence to young people in the St. Louis region. The Gateway Go Card gives youth, ages 13 to 25, an affordable option to commute to summer jobs and other destinations.<\/p>\n

The initiative is a partnership between the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, St. Clair County, St. Clair County Transit District, Metro Transit and Bi-State Development. It runs from June 1 through August 31, 2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a region, when we look to the future, we must focus on our young people and unlocking their ability to connect to new opportunities, so they can realize their full potential as a critical component of our growth, our development and our success as a region,\u201d says St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, who is credited with initiating the idea for the test program in 2018<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One of last year\u2019s Gateway Go Card success stories comes from Tim\u2019mya who graduated from high school last spring.\u00a0Tim\u2019mya secured a Gateway Go Card to get to her summer job. That job became a permanent position for Tim\u2019mya and ultimately put her on a path of becoming a veterinarian technician and eventually a veterinarian. Krewson says Tim\u2019mya is just one of the many success stories.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t think of anything more important to the growth and development of our youth than to have that first job opportunity,\u201d said St. Louis County Executive Sam Page. \u201cThis is a real opportunity to make a real impact in the lives of our young adults and it\u2019s great to see Bi-State Development stepping up to provide this program.\u201d<\/p>\n

St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern\u00a0sees the program as a way to connect young people to opportunities while also creating lifelong users of the public transit system.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Gateway Go Card program is important,\u201d he said. \u201cIt offers big savings on transit passes and is a simple way we can support our youth and make it easier for them to pursue their dreams, no matter where they are or where they want to go in the bi-state region.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Gateway<\/a>