ENID — A number of people who ride Enid Transit either are looking for a job or going to and from work. Now there is an easier way for some of them to ride.

Enid Transit received a $5,000 grant from Community Development Block Grant to pay for passes or punch cards for low-income riders. The passes may be used once a year for whatever time is allotted. Information designating the individual’s income is required before they are issued a pass. Passes are good from 30 to 90 days.

Information needed includes a photo I.D. and income verification — either a tax return or 90 days of paycheck stubs. Information on assistance needs and  length of assistance must be provided, and a bus pass application must be completed. That information is available at Enid Transit office, 1502 W. Poplar, or by calling at 616-7357.

Enid Public Transportation Authority general manager Kim Watkins said passes are available for three days or up to 30 days. Riders may use either a punch card, which has no expiration date, or a pass, which is good for an unlimited number of rides within a specific time period. They are available only once a year, he said.

“This is our first year to do it, and we still have about $4,000 left,” Watkins said.

The program is a pilot project for Enid Transit. Watkins applied to CDBG for additional funding next year, and he hopes the program works well. Enid Transit reports between 5,000 and 6,000 rides per month. During fiscal year 2011-12, it recorded 67,631 customers.

The grant is a public service of the CDBG.

CDBG was designed for that type of program, said Stephanie Carr, CDBG director.

“He actually didn’t get much money the first year because it is a trial program. It has boomed because there is a need here,” Carr said.

If individuals have a medical need that requires going to Oklahoma City or Tulsa and do not have a car capable of making the trip, Watkins said Enid Transit can assist if they are income qualified.

Watkins wants the pass and punch card program to have a lot of response, because he believes it is needed and wants to do it again. Watkins has been director of EPTA for five years. He started as a part-time driver, moved up to dispatcher, then into operations and now is the general manager.

There are housing and urban development guidelines about the cost for the passes. A person with a family of four making $15,800 or less will receive their pass free.Those making up to $26,500 will pay 25 percent the cost of their pass, and if they make $42,150 or less, they may pay half the cost of their pass. Cost of a month pass is $45.

Four types of passes are available: an adult flash pass, good for 30 days of unlimited ridership; a youth freedom pass, for ages 13-18, good for 30 days unlimited rides; a junior pass, for ages 6 to 12, also good for 30 days of unlimited rides; and a summer fun pass, for ages 6-18, good for unlimited ridership. A punch card is good for 10 rides from either a fixed-route pick-up, or if the customer is disabled or a senior, will qualify for curb-to-curb pick-up.

The application also asks for the reason the pass is needed, whether employment, education, medical or other reasons. Length of assistance is 30 to 90 days.

The passes are a program Watkins has continued to receive requests for. He said Enid is experiencing difficult economic times, and the program is needed. He had 23 applications from people who were looking for work and using Enid Transit to get to job interviews. Of those, 20 now are employed, ride the transit daily and pay full price, helping the city pay for the transit system.

Carr said the city of Norman also has a pass program for its transit system, and Enid’s is modeled after that community.

“A lot of reason people remain low-income is because they can’t afford a car, insurance and everything to get to work,” Carr said.