Under-18s in Barnsley will be able to travel on buses free of charge to make it easier for them to access education and work opportunities.
The initiative, being piloted by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC) for 12 months, will begin on 1 August and will provide free bus travel for all under-18s living in the borough.
The scheme will be discussed and decided by BMBC’s cabinet at its next meeting on 4 April.
Passes will be valid between 07:00 and 21:00 every day, including at weekends and during school holidays. These will be available to all young people aged five to 18. Under-fives already travel free of charge and smartcards will be issued to those eligible.
The project is being delivered in partnership with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, which has committed up to £1m to the initiative.
BMBC is contributing £5m towards the pilot, which will run until 31 July 2027.
The funding will go towards the cost of travel concessions, developing smartcard technology, increasing bus capacity and ensuring that there are enough resources to monitor and evaluate the impact of the scheme.
The scheme has sparked debate in a Sheffield forum over whether something similar could be implemented.
The initiative hopes to work towards more affordable and accessible transport network for young people, and SYMCA leaders say they’ll consider region-wide expansion if the scheme proves effective.
With buses set to return to public control in 2027, the results of this trial will help shape future travel policy for young people in South Yorkshire.