Olympia/Lacey WA -- Saint Martin’s University has a lot to offer its students. And the student experience just got even better this semester with the launch of a transportation program between Saint Martin’s University and Intercity Transit. Beginning February 8, this new program enables SMU students to travel free on all local Intercity Transit service operating throughout Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Yelm.
Modeled after popular pass programs operating at The Evergreen State College and South Puget Sound Community College, both in partnership with Intercity Transit, SMU students use their current student ID card with current semester sticker as their pass to ride the bus. Stickers are available through the SMU Office of Public Safety to all enrolled undergraduate students.
The SMU pass program works seven days a week for travel to and from campus and anywhere else students want to go on the 20 local routes provided by Intercity Transit, the region’s award-winning public transportation agency. Whether for work, school, fun or errands, the destinations on transit are virtually unlimited! Three bus routes accessible from campus (Routes 66, 67 and 68) each run every 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the time of day and day of week. And the Lacey Transit Center, one of Intercity Transit’s primary operating hubs for bus system, is just a five-minute walk from campus.
Transit officials indicate destinations popular among college students include the area’s shopping complexes and malls, movie theaters and restaurants, other college campuses, libraries and bookstores, coffee shops and recreation centers. Students with regional destinations in mind can get to the Amtrak Centennial train station, Greyhound or to Tacoma, Seattle, SeaTac Airport - even the ocean - with additional fare for out-of-county travel.
Transit officials indicate the new program is especially timely given the sustained economic downturn and gas prices nudging upwards. “We know it's important for students to get around and it's very costly to have a car,” states Mike Harbour, Intercity Transit General Manager. “Taking advantage of transit can make a huge difference in cost and mobility, and to students' overall college experience.”
Transit Service Seven Days a Week
Three Intercity Transit routes, Routes 66, 67, and 68, serve the Saint Martin’s campus six days a week - Monday through Saturday - and one route, the 66, seven days a week. All three routes go through the Lacey Transit Center, just off Sleater-Kinney on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Golf Club Place (next to the Lacey Fred Meyer Shopping Center). Students can use SMU Routes 66 and 68 – or others - to travel to downtown Olympia and the Olympia Transit Center where connections to many other bus routes can be made, including to three neighboring transit systems (Pierce, Mason and Grays Harbor Transit systems).
Service to Tacoma, with connections to Sea-Tac Airport and Seattle, is available seven days a week on the out-of-county, Olympia-Tacoma Express service, operated jointly between Intercity Transit and Pierce Transit. Connection to Sound Transit bus and rail service can be made through the Olympia-Tacoma Express service.
How to Use Transit
Simply flash your student ID with current term sticker as you board any local Intercity Transit bus. For information on reading a transit schedule and other tips, go to our Riding the Bus page.
Keep in mind:
Route 66 to Lacey, Ruddell Road and the Olympia Transit Center downtown
Route 66 serves Pacific Avenue and College Street every half hour during the day and evening and every hour at night Monday through Saturday. The last trip from downtown Olympia is at 10:30 p.m. and arrives at the Lacey Transit Center at 11:15 p.m. Sunday service is every half hour and ends earlier in the day.
Route 67 to Lacey and Tri-Lake
Route 67 serves Pacific Avenue every hour all day, Monday through Friday. Saturday service begins later in the morning and runs every hour through the evening. Route 67 does not run on Sundays.
Route 68 to Lacey, Tumwater Square, and Downtown Olympia
Route 68 serves Pacific Avenue every half-hour during mornings and evenings Monday through Friday. Weekday afternoons and all day Saturdays, service runs every hour. Route 68 does not run on Sundays.
Transit Fair on Campus Wednesday, February 3
Intercity Transit will visit campus on Wednesday, February 3 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Troutman Student Union Building to answer your questions about Intercity Transit service and to help students plan their bus trips.
Travel Training Available
A free, self-paced Travel Training program is for people who want to learn to travel independently using Intercity Transit’s regular bus system. Training occurs one-on-one or with a small group in a casual, friendly manner. For more information, traveltraining@intercitytransit.com.
Take Your Bike with You
Every bus and van has a rack for two bicycles. If your final destination is too far to walk from the bus stop, just put your bike on the rack and away you go! Space on bike racks is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Skateboards and skates are allowed inside buses, but they must be secured by the passenger for safety.
Get More Information
Intercity Transit service information is available at the Campus Life Office and the Office of Public Safety. Just swing by and pick up a Transit Guide for routes and schedule information. Or visit our maps and schedules page. A brochure, which lists popular destinations and handy routes you take to get there, is also available there. Transit information is also available online at intercitytransit.com and through Customer Service, 360-786-1881 or customerservice@intercitytransit.com.