Whatcom Transportation Authority and Western Washington University Reach Agreement on Student Bus Pass Program

Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) and Western Washington University (WWU) have reached agreement on a contract to extend their "universal" bus pass program through September 2027, pending approval by WTA's Board of Directors and WWU.

Under the current contract, WWU pays WTA $600,000 per year in exchange for unlimited bus rides by WWU students and employees. The current contract expires in September 2026. Under the new contract, WWU will pay WTA an additional $100,000 per year. There will be no increase to what WWU students pay through their Active Transportation Fee. The new contract will expire in September 2027.

WTA's Board of Directors recently approved a fare increase to take effect in September 2026. General Public fares will increase from $1 per ride to $2 per ride. The purpose of the fare increase is to preserve WTA's capacity to maintain current levels of bus service despite a growing gap between operating expenses and operating revenues. This will be the first time WTA has raised fares since 2009.

WTA and WWU have been meeting regularly since December 2025. Once this one-year agreement is approved, WTA and WWU will continue to negotiate terms for a multiyear contract to begin in September 2027. WWU students will vote on the multiyear contract in the Spring of 2027.

WTA's Board Chair and Ferndale City Councilmember Ali Hawkinson said, "WTA and WWU have a strong shared interest in making it easy and cost-effective for the Western community to ride both to campus and throughout Whatcom County. This is a collaborative way to continue transit access."

"We are grateful to WTA for their continued partnership and commitment to serving the Western community," said WWU President Sabah Randhawa. "This agreement ensures that our students and employees can rely on affordable, accessible transportation, and it reflects our shared investment in sustainability, mobility, and student success."

WTA's Board of Directors will have an opportunity to vote on the contract at their board meeting at 8 am on Thursday, April 16, 2026. WWU's President Sabah Randhawa, or his designee, will then have the opportunity to approve the contract.

To learn more about WTA's fare changes, visit engage.ridewta.com/fares.