by InTrieste
The regional government of Friuli Venezia Giulia has renewed its 50 percent discount on public transportation passes for students for the 2026–27 school year, extending a measure aimed at reducing commuting costs for families and encouraging greater use of public transit.
The initiative, approved by the regional cabinet, applies to students residing in Friuli Venezia Giulia who are enrolled in compulsory and secondary schools, universities or equivalent higher education institutions. Eligibility extends until the day before a student’s 27th birthday.
Under the program, students will receive a 50 percent reduction on eligible local bus and rail passes. For rail services operated by Trenitalia, applications for the discounted passes will now be submitted through a fully digital process, a change the region says is intended to simplify access to the benefit.
The government also renewed a parallel subsidy for students living in Friuli Venezia Giulia who attend upper secondary schools in neighboring Veneto municipalities. The discount covers rail passes for destinations within 50 kilometers of the stations of Sacile and Portogruaro, as well as bus services operated by Mom Mobilità di Marca, Atvo and Dolomiti Bus.
Regional officials said the cross-border measure reflects the daily commuting patterns of many families whose children attend schools outside the region.
Demand for the discounted passes has grown steadily in recent years. For the 2025–26 academic year, the regional government allocated more than €11 million to finance reduced-fare subscriptions for students attending schools within Friuli Venezia Giulia, along with an additional €89,000 for residents studying in Veneto.
Regional authorities said the program is intended to support access to education while promoting the use of public transportation as a more sustainable mode of travel.
