San Bernardino, Calif.-based Omnitrans will give local college students a break from the rising cost of higher education this fall, as second installment of the "Go Smart" program offers them a free seven-day bus pass to get to campus.

In partnership with Cal State University San Bernardino; Chaffey, Crafton Hills and San Bernardino Valley Colleges; and Loma Linda University, Omnitrans will handout 26,000 of the $10-value Go Smart passes. When activated during the first week of the fall session, it is good for seven consecutive days of unlimited travel anywhere in the agency's 480 square-mile service area.

More than 38,000 free student trips were tallied in 2008, the inaugural year for the "Go Smart" program. Boardings at campus bus stops increased by 57 percent during the promotion period compared to the prior year. Bus stop activity remained 49 percent higher a month after the promotion, meaning students continued to use Omnitrans after the free week.

"The Omnitrans Go Smart promotion is coming at an ideal time for the SBVC student body. The recent state-mandated enrollment fee increases and the continuing impact of the economic downturn have made it even tougher to for many students to pursue their dream of attending college," said Craig Petinak, San Bernardino Valley Colleges, director of marketing and public relations.

Go Smart passes are available for students at campus bookstores and other locations at the schools listed above; for details and personalized trip planning, visit www.omnitrans.org.