Anya Kapstan, a new Peninsula College enrollee, takes the bus to classes from her home in Port Townsend. Kapstan pays $1.50 for the round-trip from Port Townsend to Sequim. With the new pass, she’ll pay just $5 a quarter to ride Clallam Transit. Sequim Gazette photo by Mark Couhig

Under a new three-way agreement established by Peninsula College, Clallam Transit System and Peninsula College students, Sequim students attending Peninsula College can purchase a low-cost pass for use on all Clallam Transit buses.

The new $5 passes are valid for an academic quarter.

Terry Weed, general manager of Clallam Transit, said Peninsula College students recently voted to "tax themselves" to provide the support to Sequim students. In late May the students voted to self-impose a $5 fee on all students to help pay for the deeply-discounted bus passes.

The passes are good on all Clallam Transit buses, at any time, throughout the quarter. Prior to the recent vote, the best deal available to Sequim students was a $53 pass, good for one quarter. The new passes are valid from Sept. 20.

In the past, Clallam sold 100-150 student passes each quarter, Weed said. Clallam Transit defines students as those 6-19 years old.

Weed says Clallam Transit will receive more revenue through the new arrangement but also takes on additional liability. He says there is a possibility that large numbers of students may seek to utilize the bus system at the same time.

About 25 percent of Peninsula College’s students live in Sequim. This quarter’s anticipated enrollment tops 2,500.

Reach Mark Couhig at mcouhig@sequimgazette.com.