General Information
What is Western Student Transportation?
Western Student Transportation, known as WST, was developed after Western students approved an Alternative Transportation Fee in April 2007. WST is responsible for representing and coordinating student transportation needs, and coordinates such services such as the WTA Viking Xpress Bus Pass and the WWU Late Night Shuttle.
How much is the fee?
Currently, the fee is $25 a quarter, and is added to the tuition of students taking six or more credits. The fee cannot increase by more than 5% each year, and is up for re-approval by a vote of the students in 2012.
I am not taking six or more credits. Can I opt-in to the fee?
Students enrolled at Western for less than six credits can choose to pay the fee. After the fee is paid, you will become eligible to receive a WTA Viking Xpress Bus Pass and use the WWU Late Night Shuttle.
I am taking six or more credits. Can I opt-out of the fee?
Students taking six or more credits cannot opt-out of the fee. By making the fee mandatory, costs are kept low and the services provided remain available to all students. The Alternative Transportation Fee is thus similar in nature to the Green Energy Fee, the Rec Center Fee, and the Student Technology Fee.
Viking Xpress Bus Pass
Who gets a Viking Xpress Bus Pass?
Every student who pays the Alternative Transportation Fee is eligible to receive a bus pass which is good on all Whatcom Transportation Authority bus routes and is also valid on the WWU Late Night Shuttle.
How do I get my Viking Xpress Bus Pass?
The Western Card Office in Edens Hall will be distributing bus passes during regular office hours (9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday) throughout the year beginning September 17th. Lost passes can be replaced at the Western Card office at no charge.
I lost my bus pass. Can I get a replacement?
If you lost your bus pass, you can go to the Western Card Office and get a replacement. There is no replacement fee, but on the issue of a new bus pass your old bus pass will no longer be valid on either WTA buses or the WWU Late Night Shuttle.
Do I have to get a new bus pass each quarter?
No you do not. Your Viking Xpress Bus Pass is valid for the Academic Year, or in other words for Fall, Winter and Spring Quarters. If you withdraw from Western or take less than six credits after you pick up your bus pass during Fall Quarter, your bus pass will no longer be valid.
Is my bus pass good for Summer Quarter?
The Viking Xpress Bus Pass issued starting Fall Quarter is only valid through the end of Spring Quarter. However, student enrolled for six or more credits during Summer Quarter can pick up a valid summer bus pass in the Western Card Office starting midway through Spring Quarter. Students enrolled at Western taking less than six credits for Summer Quarter can opt-in to the fee to become eligible for a summer pass.
Is my bus pass only good to travel to and from Western?
No, your Viking Xpress Bus Pass is good throughout Whatcom County. Destinations include historic Fairhaven, Downtown Bellingham, Bellis Fair Mall, Sunset Square, Lakeway Center, Lake Padden, Whatcom Falls, Lynden, and Ferndale.
Can I use my bus pass to travel regionally outside of Whatcom County?
Your Viking Xpress Bus Pass is good on all WTA routes, including the 80X which connects Bellingham to Mount Vernon. From Mount Vernon on, your bus pass cannot be used as fare. However, getting from Mount Vernon to Everett, Seattle, or Tacoma using public transit agencies costs only a few dollars. Click here for more information.
WWU Late Night Shuttle
What is the WWU Late Night Shuttle?
The WWU Late Night Shuttle is a late night bus service open only to Western students. The shuttle system consists of two routes that serve Downtown Bellingham, WWU, Bill MacDonald Parkway, and Lincoln Creek Park and Ride, Lakeway Center, and the York Neighborhood.
Where does the WWU Late Night Shuttle stop?
The WWU Late Night Shuttle stops at all WTA bus stops along its route, but does not serve WTA’s Downtown Bus Terminal. Instead, the shuttle stops at five locations along Railroad Avenue between Chestnut Street and Champion Street.
What do I need to ride the WWU Late Night Shuttle?
You will need either your Western Card or your Viking Xpress Bus Pass in order to ride the WWU Late Night Shuttle.
Can my friends who are not Western students ride the WWU Late Night Shuttle with me?
Unfortunately, they cannot. The WWU Late Night Shuttle is only available for Western students and select Western employees.
How late does the shuttle run?
The WWU Late Night Shuttle leaves on its last run from either Haggard Hall or the Viking Union at 2:30 AM everyday. Each shuttle will complete its run and then go out of service at Haggard Hall or Viking Union, respectively.
When does the shuttle begin service?
The WWU Late Night Shuttle leaves Haggard Hall or the Viking Union Monday through Saturday at 11:00 PM. On Sundays, the WWU Late Night Shuttle leaves Haggard Hall or the Viking Union at 9:00 PM.
When does the shuttle begin operating in the fall?
The WWU Late Night Service begins operating on Sunday, September 23rd, 2007 and operates throughout Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters. The shuttle does not operate during Thanksgiving, Winter, or Spring breaks.
Does the shuttle operate during the summer?
Currently the WWU Late Night Shuttle does not operate during Summer Quarter.
What is Western Student Transportation?
Western Student Transportation, known as WST, was developed after Western students approved an Alternative Transportation Fee in April 2007. WST is responsible for representing and coordinating student transportation needs, and coordinates such services such as the WTA Viking Xpress Bus Pass and the WWU Late Night Shuttle.
How much is the fee?
Currently, the fee is $25 a quarter, and is added to the tuition of students taking six or more credits. The fee cannot increase by more than 5% each year, and is up for re-approval by a vote of the students in 2012.
I am not taking six or more credits. Can I opt-in to the fee?
Students enrolled at Western for less than six credits can choose to pay the fee. After the fee is paid, you will become eligible to receive a WTA Viking Xpress Bus Pass and use the WWU Late Night Shuttle.
I am taking six or more credits. Can I opt-out of the fee?
Students taking six or more credits cannot opt-out of the fee. By making the fee mandatory, costs are kept low and the services provided remain available to all students. The Alternative Transportation Fee is thus similar in nature to the Green Energy Fee, the Rec Center Fee, and the Student Technology Fee.
Viking Xpress Bus Pass
Who gets a Viking Xpress Bus Pass?
Every student who pays the Alternative Transportation Fee is eligible to receive a bus pass which is good on all Whatcom Transportation Authority bus routes and is also valid on the WWU Late Night Shuttle.
How do I get my Viking Xpress Bus Pass?
The Western Card Office in Edens Hall will be distributing bus passes during regular office hours (9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday) throughout the year beginning September 17th. Lost passes can be replaced at the Western Card office at no charge.
I lost my bus pass. Can I get a replacement?
If you lost your bus pass, you can go to the Western Card Office and get a replacement. There is no replacement fee, but on the issue of a new bus pass your old bus pass will no longer be valid on either WTA buses or the WWU Late Night Shuttle.
Do I have to get a new bus pass each quarter?
No you do not. Your Viking Xpress Bus Pass is valid for the Academic Year, or in other words for Fall, Winter and Spring Quarters. If you withdraw from Western or take less than six credits after you pick up your bus pass during Fall Quarter, your bus pass will no longer be valid.
Is my bus pass good for Summer Quarter?
The Viking Xpress Bus Pass issued starting Fall Quarter is only valid through the end of Spring Quarter. However, student enrolled for six or more credits during Summer Quarter can pick up a valid summer bus pass in the Western Card Office starting midway through Spring Quarter. Students enrolled at Western taking less than six credits for Summer Quarter can opt-in to the fee to become eligible for a summer pass.
Is my bus pass only good to travel to and from Western?
No, your Viking Xpress Bus Pass is good throughout Whatcom County. Destinations include historic Fairhaven, Downtown Bellingham, Bellis Fair Mall, Sunset Square, Lakeway Center, Lake Padden, Whatcom Falls, Lynden, and Ferndale.
Can I use my bus pass to travel regionally outside of Whatcom County?
Your Viking Xpress Bus Pass is good on all WTA routes, including the 80X which connects Bellingham to Mount Vernon. From Mount Vernon on, your bus pass cannot be used as fare. However, getting from Mount Vernon to Everett, Seattle, or Tacoma using public transit agencies costs only a few dollars. Click here for more information.
WWU Late Night Shuttle
What is the WWU Late Night Shuttle?
The WWU Late Night Shuttle is a late night bus service open only to Western students. The shuttle system consists of two routes that serve Downtown Bellingham, WWU, Bill MacDonald Parkway, and Lincoln Creek Park and Ride, Lakeway Center, and the York Neighborhood.
Where does the WWU Late Night Shuttle stop?
The WWU Late Night Shuttle stops at all WTA bus stops along its route, but does not serve WTA’s Downtown Bus Terminal. Instead, the shuttle stops at five locations along Railroad Avenue between Chestnut Street and Champion Street.
What do I need to ride the WWU Late Night Shuttle?
You will need either your Western Card or your Viking Xpress Bus Pass in order to ride the WWU Late Night Shuttle.
Can my friends who are not Western students ride the WWU Late Night Shuttle with me?
Unfortunately, they cannot. The WWU Late Night Shuttle is only available for Western students and select Western employees.
How late does the shuttle run?
The WWU Late Night Shuttle leaves on its last run from either Haggard Hall or the Viking Union at 2:30 AM everyday. Each shuttle will complete its run and then go out of service at Haggard Hall or Viking Union, respectively.
When does the shuttle begin service?
The WWU Late Night Shuttle leaves Haggard Hall or the Viking Union Monday through Saturday at 11:00 PM. On Sundays, the WWU Late Night Shuttle leaves Haggard Hall or the Viking Union at 9:00 PM.
When does the shuttle begin operating in the fall?
The WWU Late Night Service begins operating on Sunday, September 23rd, 2007 and operates throughout Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters. The shuttle does not operate during Thanksgiving, Winter, or Spring breaks.
Does the shuttle operate during the summer?
Currently the WWU Late Night Shuttle does not operate during Summer Quarter.
Contact Us
Western Student Transportation can be contacted via phone at (360) 650-7960 or via e-mail at AS.Transportation@wwu.edu. The WST offices are located on the lower level of the Viking Commons in rooms VC 024 and VC 025. Check back or e-mail WST for updated office hours.
For information concerning faculty and staff transportation needs, please contact Carol Berry via phone at (360) 650-7960 or via e-mail at carol.berry@wwu.edu.
Western Student Transportation can be contacted via phone at (360) 650-7960 or via e-mail at AS.Transportation@wwu.edu. The WST offices are located on the lower level of the Viking Commons in rooms VC 024 and VC 025. Check back or e-mail WST for updated office hours.
For information concerning faculty and staff transportation needs, please contact Carol Berry via phone at (360) 650-7960 or via e-mail at carol.berry@wwu.edu.