Changes are coming to Bellevue College’s Transportation Program!
The major change to the program is the replacement of Commuter Check program for the ORCA Plus program. The Student Financial Services office will still sell Commuter Checks to students who qualify for ORCA LIFT and the RRFP. The changes to the Bellevue College Transportation Program emerged after a Fall 2014 LEAN Event sponsored by Bellevue College leadership.
What’s new?
- ORCA Plus: Replaces the existing Commuter Check program for Youth and Adult sales at Bellevue College.
- ORCA LIFT Reduced Fare: A new ORCA program for transit riders with limited financial resources (200% of the federal poverty level).
Student riders at Bellevue College have a variety of options available to them. Please see the menu below to assist students in finding the best option for them!
| Option | Eligibility | How to Purchase? |
|---|---|---|
| ORCA Plus Blue $240 value (purchased for $120) Youth Card available ($1.50/trip) | Requires registration in 10 credits or more. | Cashier’s Office (B 126) |
| ORCA Plus Silver $120 value (purchased for $60) Youth Card available ($1.50/trip) | Requires registration in 5 credits or more. | Cashier’s Office (B 126) |
| ORCA LIFT $240 and $120 Commuter Checks available. Confirm Orca LIFT eligibility prior to purchasing the Commuter Check. | 200% of the federal poverty Level. Learn more on Metro’s ORCA LIFT website. Commuter Check require the same credit load as ORCA Plus. | Qualify at King County Public Health in Eastgate, minutes from campus. Purchase Commuter Check at Cashier’s Office (B 126). |
| Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) $240 and $120 Commuter Checks available. Confirm RRFP eligibility prior to purchasing the Commuter Check. Youth Card available ($1.50/trip) | For seniors (above 65 years of age) and disabled students. Learn more on Metro’s RRFP website. Commuter Check require the same credit load as ORCA Plus. | Qualify at ORCA Customer Service in King Street Station, Seattle. Purchase Commuter Check at Cashier’s Office (B 126). |
ORCA Plus Questions
| What is Orca Plus? The ORCA Plus card replaces the Commuter Check for ORCA program, but only for adult and youth sales. ORCA Plus cards are simply pre-loaded Orca Cards that a student can purchase and use immediately on a bus/train/ferry. The ORCA Plus program is specific to Bellevue College. |
| How much do the cards cost? Students pay ONLY $120 for Orca Blue and $60 for Orca Silver. Students will NOT pay the $5 Orca card fee for Orca Plus cards. Please note: Orca Blue cards are not sold during Summer Quarters. |
| When does the program start? March 30, 2015. |
| Do students need to purchase a new Orca Plus card every quarter? Yes. Students must purchase a new Orca Plus card each quarter, similar to how they purchased a new Commuter Check card each quarter in the past. |
| Are Orca Plus cards reusable? Yes. If the pre-loaded funds run out, the student can load funds out-of-pocket on to the card, just like they do now. However, the student must purchase a new Orca Plus card during the next quarter in order to get the subsidized value. |
| Will students still fill out contracts? Yes. We will still require a signed contract for the Orca Plus cards. We will also be recording Orca card numbers. A new contract format will be used. |
| Will students need to register Orca Plus cards? Registration of Orca Plus cards is HIGHLY recommended! Orca Plus cards become the property of the student once purchased, and only registered cards can be reimbursed if they become lost or stolen. |
| Will vouchers still be accepted? Yes. Nothing will change regarding vouchers. We will still accept vouchers that state “Commuter Check”, but would encourage departments that issue vouchers to update voucher language to “Orca Plus” at their convenience. |
| ORCA LIFT Questions |
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| Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) Questions |
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Last Updated March 15, 2017