County Connection's summer free-ride program ends Friday, July 31. The agency's new Youth Rider Guide, published Friday, July 24, lays out how families can keep transit costs down once school resumes and the demand is real. The summer Youth Ride Free program logged more than 25,000 free rides in 2025, a 1,600% increase over prior summers, according to a May 6 County Connection press release.

For Las Lomas High School's roughly 1,577 students, the guide confirms three fixed routes serve the campus: Route 4 (Broadway Plaza/BART Walnut Creek), Route 5 (Creekside/BART Walnut Creek), and Route 21. Those are regular County Connection lines, not dedicated school buses, so they run on standard schedules rather than being timed to bell times.

Two ways to cut costs

Pass2Class: This free transit pass program, run by 511 Contra Costa Transportation Authority, covers up to two students per household for up to two months. Applications are open at 511.ccta.ca.gov/schools/pass2class-program/. Passes activate Saturday, August 1.

Youth Clipper Card: Available for riders ages 5 to 18, the card cuts the County Connection fare from $2.50 to $1.00 per ride and includes transfers. The discount applies year-round on Bay Area transit until the rider turns 19. Families can get a card same-day at County Connection's office at 2477 Arnold Industrial Way in Concord, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring an ID, birth certificate, or passport; the child does not need to be present. Online applications take a few weeks for delivery by mail.

The two programs require separate applications. A Pass2Class pass does not include a Clipper Card.

County Connection also operates a Mobile Lobby that travels Contra Costa County, where families can apply for Youth Clipper Cards. The monthly schedule is posted at countyconnection.com/mobilelobby/.

The 600-series: dedicated school buses

While Las Lomas is served by fixed routes, other Acalanes Union campuses get dedicated 600-series school buses. Campolindo and Miramonte high schools share Route 606, and Acalanes High has Route 625. These buses run on school days only, departing 10 minutes after the bell. Each route uses one 40-foot bus that holds roughly 70 passengers. If a bus fills, no additional students can board.

Several 600-series routes — including 613, 615, 619, 622, 623, 626, and 635 — are afternoon-only, with no morning service.

What families should do before August

County Connection advises students to use real-time bus trackers like Google Maps or the Transit app rather than relying solely on printed schedules, since traffic and construction can cause delays. Bus schedules for minimum days and early dismissals are available on each route's page at countyconnection.com.

County Connection customer service is available Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., at (925) 676-7500. The full Youth Rider Guide is at countyconnection.com/transit101.