Mayor Durkan expands unlimited transit program to include Seattle middle school students

Middle school students attending Seattle schools are now eligible to receive a free, unlimited-use ORCA card under a new executive order passed by Mayor Jenny Durkan this week.

The city will expand its ORCA Opportunity program, which was created by Durkan in 2018, to provide nearly 8,000 middle school students in the city with access to free transit passes. The program is already available to 15,000 high school students and over 1,000 Seattle Promise students.

"We are building a transit culture in our region by giving our youth a passport to our City. Giving the kids of Seattle a way to and from school and activities is only the beginning," Durkan said in a news release. "ORCA Opportunity opens doors to using transit to access sporting events, colleges, arts and culture around Seattle."

The passes can be used on most regional transit systems except for the Washington State Ferries. The program is funded by a 0.15% sales tax — known as Proposition 1 — that was approved by over 80% of Seattle voters last November.

To receive an ORCA card, students must apply online. All middle school students are encouraged to apply even if they were previously denied. Cards are expected to be delivered to schools every Tuesday and Wednesday starting Nov. 9.

Announced at the U.N. climate conference in Scotland, the executive order also includes new carbon-based building performance standards. The new standard will reduce the city's building greenhouse gas emissions 27% by 2050, according to the mayor's office.

"We’ve invested billions to support green transportation, efficient buildings, and other policies to mitigate climate change, but we know we need to do more to reach net zero," Durkan said. "Cities are leading the way to take real action – our work in the last four years is making a commitment to reduce our building emissions by nearly 50% and lead the nation on climate justice and equity."