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Transportation Resources

Free Santa Maria Regional Transit Pass with Bulldog Go!

Please reach out to the Basic Needs Office at basicneeds@hancockcollege.edu or ext. 3927 with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Allan Hancock College has partnered with the Santa Maria Regional Transit (SMRT), formerly the Santa Maria Area Transit (SMAT), to offer free student bus passes to all currently enrolled Allan Hancock College students active for the term they are enrolled in.

Read below for more information about this program.

How do I ride?

Follow these steps to ride the SMRT bus for free!

  1. Download the SMRTPAY app on the App Store or Google Play
  2. Sign in using your my.hancockcollege.edu email address
  3. Click the "Tickets" tab at the bottom.
  4. Swipe one screen over to view the QR Code for your free bus pass!
  5. Show this pass to the bus drivers to ride for free!

The Bulldog Go! SMRT pass is activated for students who are enrolled by the start of the term and is updated at the first of every month for late registrations. Students have to remain enrolled in at least one course for the entire term in order to take advantage of this free pass.

Students registered for Spring 2023 by December 31, 2022 and remain registered will have an active SMRT pass from JANUARY 1 – MAY 31.

Students registered for Summer 2023 by May 26, 2023 and remain registered will have an active SMRT pass from JUNE 1 – AUGUST 18.

Students registered for Fall 2023 by August 14, 2023 and remain registered will have an active SMRT pass from AUGUST 18 – DECEMBER 31.

Via the new SMRT Pay mobile ticketing app, students can ride anywhere SMRT buses go and anytime they operate. The SMRT Pay mobile ticketing app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. With friendly drivers and a safe environment — and now free rides — SMRT is a great option for travelers headed to  and from campus. Students can use the Bulldog Go! app to get to the library or take advantage of other on-campus study spaces. Plus, there’s comfortable seating, real-time bus information and free Wi-Fi service to make the ride even better. Bikes and skateboards on the buses are welcome!

The free rides are made possible through the college's partnership with SMRT’s Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP). Funding for Bulldog Go! comes from an air quality grant that provides public transit support for projects that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility while ensuring access to higher education opportunities for the community.

Please note that this program is only for the SMRT Bus and Breeze Bus and does not include the Guadalupe Flyer, RTA, or COLT services.

Having issues accessing the Bulldog Go! Buss Pass?

Students having issues with the SMRT App and accessing the Bulldog Go! Buss Pass, are highly encouraged to contact the City of Santa Maria Transit to report the issues experienced:
Contact Eustaquio Valdez, 805- 925-0951, ext. 2170.

Tips to troubleshooting your SMRT App:

1. Ensure you are entering your Hancock email correctly. Student emails end with "@my.hancockcollege.edu"

2. If issues continue, refresh and restart the SMRT App and/or delete the app and redownload before attempting to login again

Reminder: Students must be enrolled in the current semester to utilize the Bulldog Go! Pass. The app is updated on a weekly basis to reflect current enrollment.

The City of Santa Maria Transit Representative, Eustaquio Valdez, 805- 925-0951, ext. 2170 is available to support and answer questions regarding the following:

  • BREEZ bus route questions
  • SMRT bus route questions

Check out the SMRT Bus routes and schedules

Questions? Contact the Basic Needs Office at basicneeds@hancockcollege.edu or (805) 922-6966 ext. 3927


COLT Night Service for Hancock College, Lompoc Campus!

Buses depart the Lompoc campus at 8:10 p.m., 8:40 p.m., 9:10 p.m., and 9:40 p.m. Monday through Thursday and drop students off at their Lompoc residence. Normal COLT fares apply. For more information call 736-7666.


RTA Bus Passes- To be eligible to receive an RTA bus pass, the actively enrolled student must live in SLO County. For more information about the RTA bus pass and its bus routes, please visit https://www.slorta.org/schedules-fares/.

If you are a student commuting from San Luis Obispo County, you may complete the Basic Needs Intake to be assessed for an RTA Bus Pass.

Other Transportation Resources

California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program

Find out if you're eligible for low cost auto insurance through the CLCA by clicking the link above or by speaking to a local representative.

"California’s Low Cost Automobile (CLCA) Insurance program was established by the Legislature in 1999 and exists (pursuant to California Insurance Code Section 11629.7) as a program designed to provide income-eligible, good drivers with liability insurance protection at affordable rates as a way to meet California’s mandatory auto insurance law.

California’s Low Cost Auto (CLCA) Insurance Program is a state-sponsored program that makes insurance affordable for California residents who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of immigration status.

The CLCA Insurance program is brought to you by the California Department of Insurance and is administered by the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP)." 

The Bureau of Automotive Repair’s (BAR) Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) offers eligible consumers repair assistance and vehicle retirement options to help improve California's air quality. Learn More Here

Repair Assistance

Eligible consumers may receive up to $1,200 in emissions-related repairs at a STAR test-and-repair station if their vehicle fails its biennial Smog Check inspection.

Apply for Repair Assistance

Vehicle Retirement

Eligible consumers may receive either $1,500 or $1,000 to retire their operational vehicle at a BAR-contracted dismantler site.

Apply for Vehicle Retirement

Electrify Your Ride Incentive Program

Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) is excited to share the launch of the 3CE Electric Vehicle Incentive Program for eligible customers to offset costs associated with purchasing or leasing a new or used electric vehicle (EV) in enrolled communities in the counties of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

Income-qualified customers are eligible for increased incentives. 3CE believes programs like Electrify Your Ride are an opportunity to make clean vehicles more affordable and accessible to our income-qualified community. See if you qualify below:

  • You are currently enrolled in PG&E’s California Alternate Rates for Energy Programs (CARE) or Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA)   – OR –
  • You are currently enrolled in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

COLT (City of Lompoc transit)

COLT (City of Lompoc Transit) will resume their evening service beginning August 16.  In addition to their regular daily service, buses will depart the Lompoc campus at 8:10 p.m., 8:40 p.m., 9:10 p.m., and 9:40 p.m. Monday through Thursday and drop students off at their Lompoc residence. Normal COLT fares apply. Monthly bus passes are available for purchase from our cashiers.  For more information, contact COLT at 805-736-7666.

SMRT (Santa Maria Regional Transit)

Full Weekday service is anticipated to resume August 8, 2021. Please continue to check the SMRT Website for updates and/or changes to the schedule.