LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Lamorinda school buses to roll again, and, for the first time ever, will service Wilder as well


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After the difficult school year caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, area schools are reopening with full schedules of academics, sports and other activities, and the Lamorinda School Bus Program will also return to full service. The full schedule of bus service for Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda, including service from Wilder, is available on the Lamorinda Bus Program website, and parents can register for bus passes. It should be noted that Route Number 17 to Orinda Intermediate School is already almost full, but the program will record a waitlist if the route does fill up.

Annual bus passes cost $955 for round trips and $635 for one way passes. A single trip costs $6, and a bundle of single trip passes is $30. For those who prefer to pay monthly, the round trip annual pass can be split up into 10 monthly payments of $97 each, and the one-way annual pass can be paid at $65 month for 10 months.

The Lamorinda school bus program serves the elementary and middle schools, while high school students can avail of service on the County Connection public buses provided by Contra Costa County.

To encourage students to learn more about public transportation, County Connection has free "class pass programs." Kids and teens who learn to use transit now are more likely to use it as a commute alternative when they become adults.

Teachers may take their students on free trips twice per year or once per summer session using the ?xed-route bus system, Monday through Friday, during off-peak hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

County Connection provides a personalized trip plan with appropriate system maps and schedules, and a specially designed group "Class Pass" to use when boarding. Dispatch will be alerted when a class pass is being used in order to assure a smooth and enjoyable trip.