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Student Bus Passes

Asg/Pierce Transit Free Bus Pass Logo

In response to COVID-19 The Department of Student Life has coordinated with Pierce County Transit to ensure current winter quarter CPTC ORCA cards will be valid through May 15, 2020 to ensure time for current student to obtain a new spring quarter card. We will be posting a link to a request form for spring quarter cards where students will provide personal information, attest to current student status, and verify identity. Quarterly CPTC ORCA Card Distribution Spring Quarter 2020 CPTC ORCA Cards will be requested through an online link, then mailed to the address on file.

Program Overview

The Department of Student Life, in partnership with Associated Student Government (ASG) and Pierce Transit, launched the Community & Technical College (CTC) Bus Pass pilot program available to all eligible CPTC students.

As a result of the discounted bus pass program, which started in January 2017, and Student Council’s participation in transit sponsored open forums and board meetings over concerns to route changes, Pierce Transit identified CPTC as the lead community and technical college in the county to partner within modeling a pilot program designed for all students.

The program is now in its second year.

What is it?

Beginning with the Spring 2017 quarter, all CPTC students will be able to ride the Pierce Transit bus system within the county by swiping their CPTC ORCA Card when boarding the Pierce Transit bus.

IMPORTANT: Students must pick up a new CPTC ORCA Card each quarter. We'll be putting the current quarter sticker on each card we distribute to students so you don't get confused between quarters.

Quarterly CPTC ORCA Card Distribution

You can request your Spring Quarter 2020 CPTC ORCA Card by submitting the online Bus Pass Request Form.

What do I need to bring to get a CPTC ORCA Card?

Please bring your CPTC Student ID along with a copy of your upcoming quarter schedule to obtain your CPTC ORCA Card. If you are a new student and do not currently possess a CPTC student ID, you can have one printed at that time.

Eligibility

Enrolled CPTC students who pay Service & Activities (S&A) Fees or have an applicable waiver approved by CPTC and are currently taking classes are eligible to participate in this program. Beginning April 1, NWCTHS students who are not enrolled in any additional CPTC college classes are eligible for a bus pass. The following student classifications are not eligible to participate in this bus pass program because they do not pay S&A Fees:

  • Outside programs, agencies, workforce training and contracts (i.e. INVISTA)
  • Continuing education classes

If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact us at involvement@cptc.edu or 253-589-5780.

Cost

There are no out of pocket costs for CPTC students. This initiative is funded through the Associated Student Government and Services and Activities Fees paid by all CPTC students at time of registration.

Quarterly Verification

You must be a currently enrolled student at CPTC to receive a CPTC ORCA Card. Each quarter, students will need to pick up a new CPTC ORCA Card from the Student Leadership & Service Center and verify their status as a student for that quarter.

CPTC FAQs

Where do I get my CPTC ORCA Card?

Spring Quarter 2020 CPTC ORCA Cards will be requested through an online link, then mailed to the address on file.

Please bring your CPTC Student ID along with a copy of your current class schedule to obtain your CPTC ORCA Card. If you are a new student and do not currently possess a CPTC student ID, you can have one printed at that time.

The new CPTC ORCA Card for the upcoming quarter will be available five business days prior to the start of the quarter. Riders will have a grace period of five business days after the start of the new quarter to use the previous quarter CPTC ORCA Card.

Students who attend classes on the South Hill Campus are also eligible to ride the bus free with a CPTC ORCA Card. South Hill Campus students must have a CPTC ORCA Card in order to ride, which can be obtained at the Student Leadership & Service Center in Bldg 23 during normal operating hours as noted above. We will be at South Hill Campus at the beginning of each quarter to distribute CPTC ORCA Cards. Currently Pierce Transit does not have a stop near the South Hill Campus, but they are continually looking for ways to provide and improve access to students. If you have any questions or would like to provide some feedback about transportation to South Hill Campus, please contact the Department of Student Life at involvement@cptc.edu or 253-589-5734.

You can get your CPTC Student ID card printed in the Student Leadership & Service Center in Building 23 during normal operating hours as noted above. At the same time, you will also receive a CPTC ORCA Card.

You will need to get an updated CPTC ORCA Card every quarter by visiting the Student Leadership & Service Center in Building 23 during normal operating hours as noted above. Please bring your current class schedule and your Student ID.

Yes! Click Here to Give Us Your Comments & Feedback About This Program. This feedback will be helpful as we continue to develop this program and work in collaboration with Pierce Transit.

Pierce Transit FAQs

Pierce Transit has a great trip planning tool that you can use to map the best routes for your travels within Pierce County.

Bus Routes 402, 500 & 501 travel to Federal Way and are included in this student bus pass.

Students that meet the eligibility requirements of Pierce Transit’s SHUTTLE shared-ride service would be included in this student bus pass. For more information about this service, please visit the Pierce Transit SHUTTLE website.

Yes! Two third-party apps that are great for tracking and monitoring buses include One Bus Away and Transit App.

IMPORTANT: Transition Between Quarters

Winter Quarter CPTC Orca Cards are valid until May 15, 2020.
Spring Quarter CPTC Orca Cards will be available by online request

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