São Paulo students to get free passes for public transport

Students in government-run schools in São Paulo will be entitled to free passes to the subway system, the São Paulo Metropolitan Train Company (CPTM) network, and bus lines run by the Metropolitan Urban Transport Company. The benefit was introduced with a law enacted by the São Paulo state governor, Geraldo Alckmin, on Thursday (Feb. 19), and will also be extended to private school pupils with per capita household incomes of up to 1.5 times the national minimum wage ($414). The new rules should benefit about 615,000 students in the metropolitan areas of São Paulo, Santos, Campinas, and the Paraíba Valley/North coast region.

According to the government, the free passes will be awarded based on student listings provided by the schools and students' proof of income. Students will be entitled to 48 non-cumulative free trips for use within a month. The new law will become effective within 30 days of the resolution.

“This policy is designed to provide social justice and comes as an educational incentive by making students' lives easier by cutting costs. The participating transport companies have posted their guidelines on their websites,” the governor said.

Translated by Mayra Borges