Student Bus Passes

Asg/Pierce Transit Free Bus Pass Logo

Program Overview

The Office of Student Involvement, in partnership with Associated Student Government (ASG) and Pierce Transit, is excited to announce a new 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 has identified CPTC as the lead community and technical college in the county that they’d like to partner with in modeling a pilot program designed for all students.

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 showing their CPTC Student ID card + quarterly verification sticker to the Pierce Transit bus driver.

IMPORTANT: Students must have the current quarter’s verification sticker on their Student ID before riding the bus.

Quarterly Sticker Distribution

Verification stickers will be available in the Student Leadership & Service Center in Building 23 during the following date/times:

During Spring Quarter (April 2 – June 19, 2018)

  • Monday - Thursday from 9:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

To make alternative arrangements to pick up your quarterly verification sticker over spring break, please contact us at involvement@cptc.edu or call 253-589-5780.

What do I need to bring to get a verification sticker?

Please bring your CPTC Student ID along with a copy of your Spring Quarter schedule to obtain your sticker. 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. The following student classifications are not eligible to participate in this bus pass program because they do not pay S&A Fees:

  • NWCTHS students who are not enrolled in any additional CPTC college classes
  • 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 Sticker

To use this program, you must be a currently enrolled student at CPTC to receive a quarterly verification sticker on your Student ID card. The quarterly verification stickers will change quarterly and are designed to be tamperproof; please do not attempt to remove the sticker. Student ID and verification sticker will look something like this:

Quarterly Verification Sticker on Bus Pass

CPTC FAQs

Where do I get my sticker?

You can only get your quarterly verification sticker at the Student Leadership & Service Center in Building 23, Monday-Thursday between 9:30am-6 pm and Friday, between 10am-5 pm. In order to receive your sticker you must provide a copy of your current class schedule to verify your status as a student.

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

The verification sticker 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 sticker.

Depending on what bus routes you require, CPTC students are eligible to purchase a monthly ORCA Card for a reduced rate. Please contact Student Involvement Staff at involvement@cptc.edu to find out more information.

Students who attend classes on the South Hill Campus are also eligible to ride the bus free through the Universal Bus Pass program. South Hill Campus students must have a quarterly verification sticker in order to ride, which can be obtained at the Student Leadership & Service Center in Bldg 23, Monday-Thursday between 9:30a-6:00p and Friday between 10am-5pm. We will be at South Hill Campus at the beginning of each quarter to distribute verification stickers. 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 Office of Student Involvement 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, Monday-Thursday between 9:30am-6pm and Friday, between 10am-5pm. At the same time, you will also receive a quarterly verification sticker.

You will need to get an updated sticker every quarter by visiting the Student Leadership & Service Center in Building 23, Monday-Thursday between 9:30am-6 pm and Friday, between 10am-5 pm. 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

 

What if the bus driver does not let me on the bus?

If you possess both your CPTC Student ID card and have a current quarterly verification sticker, politely explain to the bus driver that Clover Park Technical College participates in the Pierce Transit College Bus Pass program with Clover Park. Bus drivers will be informed of this program and should permit you to ride.

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

Your Winter 2018 verification sticker will be valid until Friday, April 6, 2018.
Spring Quarter verification stickers will be available beginning Monday, April 2, 2018.

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