Best Transportation in California — 15 resources

About Transportation for Women

Transportation assistance helps women get to work, court, prenatal appointments, childcare, and DV shelters. Public transit passes are often free or discounted through TANF, Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT, which covers rides to all covered medical visits at no cost), and WIC. Many workforce and job training programs include bus passes, and the Ways to Work program funds low-interest car loans for working parents. Domestic violence shelters often coordinate confidential relocation transportation through VAWA-funded programs. In rural areas, dial-a-ride and volunteer driver programs operate through Area Agencies on Aging and community action agencies. This directory includes transit authorities, Medicaid NEMT providers, and car-ownership assistance.

Transportation in California

California handles custody in superior courts across all 58 counties, with the Department of Child Support Services running enforcement through local child support agencies (LCSAs). Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, and Sacramento are the major metros. LAFLA, Bay Area Legal Aid, the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, and Planned Parenthood affiliates serve women statewide.

15 Resources

1. LA Metro

LA Metro runs 6 rail lines and 119 bus routes across LA County, plus the LIFE (Low-Income Fare is Easy) program providing free or reduced fares to qualifying low-income riders—a $0 base fare for the lowest income tier. Mothers traveling with strollers find Metro Rail and most buses fully accessible. The U-Pass and EZ Transit Pass programs offer monthly unlimited rides at deep discounts for students and employers. Call (323) 466-3876 to enroll in LIFE.

(323) 466-3876 · 1 Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012 · Daily service · Visit Website

2. San Francisco Muni (SFMTA)

SFMTA's Muni operates 56 bus lines, 6 Metro rail lines, and the historic cable cars, plus Free Muni for Low- and Moderate-Income Youth and Free Muni for Seniors and People with Disabilities programs. Mothers can enroll children 4-18 in the Free Muni program at SFMTA customer service. The Clipper card with the Lifeline product cuts adult fares roughly 50% for low-income riders. Call (415) 701-2311 for enrollment details.

(415) 701-2311 · 1 S Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94103 · Daily service · Visit Website

3. San Diego MTS

San Diego MTS operates the Trolley light rail (Blue, Green, Orange, Sycuan Green lines) and 95 bus routes across San Diego County. The Reduced Fare program halves fares for seniors, riders with disabilities, and Medicare cardholders, while the Youth Opportunity Pass provides free transit to all riders 18 and under. Mothers traveling with children benefit substantially from the Youth program. Call (619) 233-3004 for accommodations.

(619) 233-3004 · 1255 Imperial Ave Suite 1000, San Diego, CA 92101 · Daily service · Visit Website

4. Sacramento Regional Transit

SacRT operates light rail and bus service across Sacramento, with the SmaRT Ride microtransit service supplementing fixed routes in several neighborhoods. The Discount Fare program halves fares for seniors, riders with disabilities, and youth; ConnectCard load reduces fumbling for cash. The free RydeFreeRT program lets all K-12 students ride free year-round—a major savings for Sacramento mothers with school-age kids. Call (916) 321-2877.

(916) 321-2877 · 1400 29th St, Sacramento, CA 95816 · Daily service · Visit Website

5. BART — Bay Area Rapid Transit

BART connects San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, San Jose, Concord, Pittsburg, Antioch, and the airports through 50+ stations across five Bay Area counties. The Clipper START low-income fare program halves fares for qualifying riders; enrollment uses Bay Area income criteria similar to those for SNAP and Medi-Cal. Mothers traveling with children under 5 ride free with a paying adult. Call (510) 464-6000 for accessibility.

(510) 464-6000 · 300 Lakeside Dr Suite 1200, Oakland, CA 94612 · Daily service · Visit Website

6. Amtrak — California

Amtrak operates three intrastate California services in partnership with Caltrans: the Pacific Surfliner (San Luis Obispo to San Diego), Capitol Corridor (Auburn to San Jose), and San Joaquins (Sacramento and Oakland to Bakersfield). The state-supported services offer discounts for children, seniors, military, and groups. Pacific Surfliner is the second-busiest Amtrak route in the country, often more reliable than I-5 traffic. Call (800) 872-7245.

(800) 872-7245 · Multiple stations statewide · Daily service

7. California 211 Transportation Resources — Free

Dialing 211 from any California phone reaches a trained operator who can route to non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) through Medi-Cal, county paratransit, faith-based ride programs, and the Veterans Transportation Service. Especially useful for mothers needing transportation to medical appointments, court dates, or food distributions when public transit doesn't connect. 24/7, free, and available in 150+ languages.

211 · Statewide service · 24/7 · Visit Website

8. Amtrak — Free

Amtrak's national network connects California to the rest of the country via the Coast Starlight (Seattle-LA), California Zephyr (Chicago-Emeryville), Southwest Chief (Chicago-LA), and Sunset Limited (LA-New Orleans). Discounts apply for children 2-12, seniors 65+, veterans, students, and groups. Useful for California mothers needing affordable long-distance travel without TSA hassle, especially for family visits during holidays.

Nationwide · Online

9. Greyhound — Free

Greyhound operates intercity bus service connecting California cities to each other and to destinations across North America, with major stations in LA, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, Fresno, and Bakersfield. Advance-purchase fares can be very low. Children under 12 with a paying adult receive significant discounts. Useful when Amtrak doesn't serve the destination or is sold out, especially for mothers traveling on short notice.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. FlixBus / Megabus — Free

FlixBus and Megabus operate budget intercity bus service in California with $5-

0 fares between LA, San Diego, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Sacramento, and other key destinations. Free WiFi on most routes makes the buses useful for working mothers traveling between job interviews or family visits. Booking 2-3 weeks in advance gets the lowest fares. Most stops are curbside rather than at terminals, so plan accordingly.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. US Department of Transportation — Free

USDOT funds California's transit agencies through FTA formula and discretionary grants, and oversees federal rules on accessibility (ADA), Title VI civil rights, and safety. Mothers can use the federal site to file complaints about discrimination, inaccessible bus stops, or unsafe service. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has directed substantial new funding to California transit—useful context when advocating with local agencies.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Veterans Transportation Service — Free

VTS provides free transportation to VA medical appointments through local VA medical center coordinators. Women veterans in California can call their VAMC's transportation office (LA, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Loma Linda, Long Beach) to schedule rides. Eligible veterans can also be reimbursed for personal vehicle mileage to VA appointments under the Beneficiary Travel program—useful for rural California veterans driving long distances.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Modivcare (Medicaid Transportation) — Free

Modivcare provides non-emergency medical transportation for Medi-Cal beneficiaries in select California counties through managed care plan contracts. Mothers covered by Medi-Cal can request rides to doctor appointments, dialysis, mental health visits, and pharmacy pickups by calling their managed care plan's transportation number. Service includes wheelchair-accessible vehicles and gas reimbursement for friend/family drivers in some cases.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety — Free

AAA Foundation publishes free senior driving resources including the Roadwise Review online assessment and CarFit events held across California where occupational therapists check seat position, mirror angles, and seatbelt fit for older drivers. Mothers caring for aging parents in California can use these tools to facilitate honest conversations about driving cessation—often the most contentious caregiving issue.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. National Aging and Disability Transportation Center — Free

NADTC provides federal technical assistance to expand transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities. The California-relevant resources include best practices for mobility management, paratransit eligibility advocacy, and volunteer driver program design—useful for mothers caring for elderly parents who've stopped driving but live in California suburbs without robust transit.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many transportation resources are in California?
Women's Corner tracks 15 transportation resources for women in California.
Are transportation resources in California free?
9 of the 15 listed transportation resources in California are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in California have transportation resources?
Listings span cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland.
What are some examples of transportation resources in California?
Featured entries include LA Metro, San Francisco Muni (SFMTA), San Diego MTS, Sacramento Regional Transit, BART — Bay Area Rapid Transit.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
7 of 15 California transportation listings include phone numbers.
How do I get a free bus pass?
Most transit agencies have reduced or free passes for low-income riders, seniors, students, and people with disabilities — apply through the transit agency directly. TANF and SNAP recipients often qualify for free passes through state Human Services. Domestic violence shelters, job training programs, and recovery programs typically provide transit passes for participants.
Are there free rides to medical appointments?
Yes. Medicaid in every state covers Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) — call your Medicaid managed care plan or state Medicaid office to schedule rides to doctor visits, dialysis, therapy, and pharmacy. American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery and Angel Flight provide free transportation for cancer and serious illness. 211 can find local volunteer driver programs.
Can I get help buying or fixing a car?
Yes — Ways to Work, Modest Needs, Vehicles for Change, and 1-800-Charity-Cars provide low-interest loans or donated vehicles to low-income working parents. Many state TANF programs have car repair funds for parents who need transportation for work. Local United Way 211 has the most current list — funds rotate.
What if I have no transportation to my job?
Tell your American Job Center caseworker — WIOA can fund transportation as a 'supportive service' including bus passes, gas cards, and car repair. SNAP E&T and TANF work programs also pay for transportation. Many employers in low-wage industries (logistics, healthcare) now offer transit stipends or shuttle service from designated pickup points.