Several weeks into the 2016 school year, the city of Pittsburgh changed its transportation system for high school students, providing PAT bus passes for students who previously took school buses to and from Winchester Thurston. The change is said to be a solution to the lack of drivers that the city of Pittsburgh struggled with in past years. Now, the drivers can more efficiently serve lower and middle schools.

The new system is great for students who are enjoying their free bus pass, but for others, PAT buses lengthen their morning and afternoon commutes. “It’s slightly more inconvenient,” says Toni Dumitriu, 11th grade student, of the new system, “I’ve had to wait 40 minutes for the next [bus] to come.” Following the change, Toni walks to Carnegie Mellon University to catch a PAT bus instead of taking a schoolbus from WT. For others, access to a free bus pass saves much more money than the old system.  Lynne Irvin, another junior at WT says “My school bus was unreliable…I used to take the PAT bus anyway.” Passes can cost over $1,000, and many students are enjoying their new freedom to travel the city.