New bus route helps Medford H.S. students travel to RCC campuses

A new bus route launched in the Rogue Valley on Monday.

Students from the Medford School District can now travel to both Jackson County Rogue Community College locations.

A three-way partnership between the Medford School District, The Rogue Valley Transit District and Rogue Community College will make it easier for Medford high schoolers to earn college credit.

We saw them take the route for the first time today.

It’s been a partnership of dreams.

“These typically don’t go as smoothly as this has. This has been a level of cooperation that I’m really unfamiliar with. It’s been wonderful,” RVTD Operations Manager Tim D’Alessandro said.

A road to higher education–nearly a decade in the making.

Medford High School students took their first ride today to Rogue Community College.

This brand new route–made possible by new funding received in may.

Now students are guaranteed the option to get a head start on higher education.

Amanda Bowden is a senior who’s planning to take child development courses at Rogue Community College.

She was originally planning to wait until graduation since she couldn’t drive herself to the RCC campus.

But now, she and many other students are just a bus ride away.

“It removes a lot of transportation barriers for people that wouldn’t be able to get out here otherwise,” D’Alessandro said.

We spoke with students who said the bus route will give them the opportunity to get caught up on credits or get ahead.

While it is tailored for students, the new bus route is open to the public.