Bates Campus Life and Activities, Bates Technical High School, and Pierce Transit partnered together to bring free, unlimited use, bus passes to students.
How much does it cost?
There is no cost for students enrolled in a career training program, technical high school, or those taking general education classes.
Currently, students taking only Adult Basic Education classes or those in the High School+ (adult high school) program are not eligible.
High School Students – NEW
As of Sept. 1, 2022, riders 18 and younger can take transit for free thanks to Move Ahead Washington, a statewide transportation funding package. Pierce Transit is pleased to welcome more youth to the freedom of transit. All youth ride transit for free. Riders age 13 and older are encouraged to show one of the following to the driver, if they have it:
- Youth ORCA Card (Please tap on the ORCA card reader when boarding.) The card will not expire if it’s registered and youth have until June 30, 2023, to register their card.)
- Current High School or Middle School Student ID, such as your
Bates Student ID card that says Tech High School. Show your Student ID Card to ride the bus for free! No need to activate a pass or use an app. For more details, visit Free Youth Pass > Pierce Transit.
Career Training Students
Prior to each college quarter, your pass will be distributed via Token Transit, a mobile ticketing app that works with Pierce Transit. Using Token Transit, your Pierce Transit college pass will always be on your phone – you’ll never have to remember cash or a physical pass.
Token Transit will send an email to your college email address (not your personal email address), with instructions on how to access your mobile college pass for your iOS or Android smart phone. Your mobile pass will be valid on Pierce Transit buses, SHUTTLE, and Pierce Transit Runner, an on-demand service that operates in certain zones within Pierce Transit’s service area (details are at PierceTransit.org/Runner).
Mid-quarter: If you’d like to start using a free bus pass after the quarter has already started, we still have you covered! Just email lemontlucas@batestech.edu to request a password, then complete an online form at https://tokentransit.com//piercetransitwa/batestechnicalcollege.
How to use your pass
To ride Pierce Transit using the Token Transit app, open up your pass before you board the bus and show it to the driver while boarding.
Questions?
For questions about your bus pass, please email lemontlucas@batestech.edu