At the end of fall quarter, a new Link Light Rail stop opened across from the college, and Highline College started a new “ORCA Incentive Program” to add to their many convenient alternative transportation options for students. 

Many were excited about this as it means that commuting will be made easier if they don’t have a car, or simply want a different form of transportation to the campus. Public Safety has sent out multiple emails to students about this program and the qualifications students must meet in order to be eligible for it.

If students haven’t gotten to those emails, the qualifications are fairly simple: Students must NOT have picked up their parking permit for this quarter, must be enrolled in at least one credit class during the current quarter, and must submit only one ORCA Incentive Form per quarter. 

The first thing Public Safety requires students to do is to check your eligibility. If you qualify, then you can pick up your Highline-issued ORCA card from the Public Safety Office during operating hours (8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday-Friday). Students are able to load their card with any amount between $10 and $50 using their own funds – no more, no less. 

The next step is to submit the “ORCA Incentive Form.” And within five business days, students will receive an email confirming their eligibility, and the amount they have put onto their card will be matched by the college. So, if a student put $30 on their card, the school will add $30 as well, meaning said student will now have $60 to use on the Light Rail. 

Students are allowed to keep their ORCA card for future quarters, then when the money runs out they are able to refill it. However, the only caveat is that students can only fill and get their amount matched by the college once per quarter, so when the money is out, they can refill it as they would any ORCA card, but the amount will not again be matched by the college. 

If you are looking for more information you can look at the “ORCA Incentive Program” webpage on Highline’s website or head over to the Public Safety Office in Building 6, room 104, and talk to one of the team members there to help answer any questions you might have.