HB 2727
In CommitteeHouse
Educational transit access
Creating the educational transit access grant program to reduce the cost of public transportation for community and technical college students.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill creates a state grant program to help public transit agencies partner with community and technical colleges to launch pilot programs that offer free or discounted transit passes to students. The goal is to reduce transportation costs for students, improve access to education, and test models for long-term sustainability.
- Creates the Educational Transit Access Grant Program under the Washington State Department of Transportation to fund pilot programs that offer free or reduced transit fares to students.
- Requires transit agencies to partner with local community or technical colleges and submit proposals outlining program goals, metrics, and long-term sustainability plans.
- Mandates that pilot programs provide free or reduced fares to students enrolled in degree- or certificate-seeking programs at public community and technical colleges.
- Requires the Department of Transportation to issue a call for proposals within 60 days of the bill’s effective date and to submit pilot program outcome reports to the legislature within six months of each pilot’s completion.
- Defines 'transit agency' broadly to include city, county, and regional public transit systems across Washington.
Who is affected
- Community and technical college students — Students at public community and technical colleges in Washington may receive free or reduced-price public transit passes through pilot programs funded by the state, potentially lowering their transportation costs and improving access to campus.
- Public transit agencies — Public transit agencies (such as city bus systems, county transit authorities, or regional transit districts) can apply for state grants to launch pilot programs offering discounted or free transit to students, and must partner with local colleges to do so.
- Washington State Department of Transportation — The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will manage the grant program, solicit proposals, and report on pilot outcomes to the legislature.
- Community and technical colleges — Local community and technical colleges must formally commit to partnering with transit agencies on pilot programs and help design long-term sustainability plans.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Directly reduces transportation costs for low-income students at public community and technical colleges — who are disproportionately first-generation, low-income, and people of color — improving attendance, retention, and completion.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)By reducing reliance on personal vehicles (especially among students without reliable transport), the program may reduce traffic accidents and associated emergency response costs — particularly beneficial in areas with high pedestrian and cyclist activity near campuses.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)(b)Encourages modal shift from single-occupancy vehicles to public transit, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution — especially valuable in Puget Sound region where transportation is the largest source of emissions.
EnvironmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)(d)Requires data collection and legislative reporting on pilot outcomes, creating a transparent evidence base to inform future state investment in student mobility — potentially leading to more effective and equitable transit policy.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(4)By lowering transportation costs, the program effectively increases disposable income for students — helping offset rising housing costs in college towns and reducing housing insecurity or overcrowding.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)
Potential Concerns (5)
The program only covers students at public community and technical colleges, excluding students at four-year public universities (e.g., UW, WSU) and private institutions — despite many low-income students attending those schools — limiting broad educational access.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)While the bill requires sustainability planning, it provides no dedicated ongoing funding source, meaning transit agencies and colleges may be required to absorb long-term costs after the pilot ends — potentially diverting funds from other critical services or leading to program termination.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)(d)The requirement for formal partnership commitments may disproportionately burden small or under-resourced community colleges and transit agencies with limited staff capacity to develop and manage proposals, potentially reducing participation from rural or smaller jurisdictions.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(2)(c)The lack of specified funding or appropriation means the program’s scale and duration are uncertain; if funded through general fund reallocation rather than new revenue, it could compete with other high-priority services like K–12 education or healthcare.
FinancialRef: Fiscal Impact section (not in bill text)The bill does not require that participating transit agencies maintain or increase service frequency to support student travel — meaning discounted or free passes may not translate into meaningful access if service is infrequent, unreliable, or geographically mismatched with student needs.
TransportationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)
Who Is Most Affected
Low-income students at public community and technical colleges — especially those without reliable transportation — are the primary direct beneficiaries; they gain reduced mobility costs and improved access to education and jobs.
Transit agencies gain new ridership and state funding to test innovative fare models, but may face administrative burdens and future cost-sharing obligations if the program is not fully funded post-pilot.
WSDOT gains expanded authority and programmatic responsibility, but with no new dedicated funding — potentially straining existing staff resources without additional budget support.
Community and technical colleges benefit from increased student access and retention, but must invest staff time and coordination to meet partnership requirements — a burden for smaller institutions.
Rural and smaller transit agencies may face challenges meeting proposal requirements (e.g., data collection, sustainability planning), potentially limiting their participation despite higher need.