Green Pass Users Take 1.8 Million Rides; Spring Passes Available January 2

Austin Community College District Green Pass users have taken more than 1.8 million rides in the two years since the college began offeringÂ Capital Metro passes to students and employees. Spring 2012 passes will be available beginning January 2; they remain valid through May 28.

“Green Pass is one of our most successful sustainability initiatives,” says Andy Kim, ACC’s director of environmental stewardship. “It’s helping students get to class, easing parking congestion at our campuses, and lowering ACC’s impact on the environment. We encourage all of our students and employees to try it.”

Fall 2011 Green Passes are valid through January 16.

Funded through the student sustainability fee ($1 per credit hour) and employee parking permit fees, Green Pass provides Capital Metro passes to credit students, faculty, and staff at no additional cost. To obtain a Green Pass, bring your ACC ID to your campus cashier office.

Bus riders are required to swipe their Green Passes in the fare box and show an ACC ID while boarding; MetroRail riders must insert their Green Passes into the ticket validator and show an ACC ID when prompted by fare inspectors.

ACC’s current agreement with Capital Metro runs through August 31, 2012.

“We are pleased with the success of the Green Pass,” says Linda S. Watson, Capital Metro president/CEO. “The program provides obvious benefits to the college, students, and employees, but it also benefits the community by reducing the number of cars on the road and improving air quality. We are proud to partner with ACC for this initiative.”

Green Pass is a key component of ACC’s commitment to sustainable practices. Other sustainability initiatives include Green Car (preferred parking for environmentally-friendly vehicles), LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards for new construction and major renovations, green cleaning, the phase-out of inefficient incandescent light bulbs, and Green Fountain (water bottle filling stations). Learn more at austincc.edu/sustainability.

11 Responses to "Green Pass Users Take 1.8 Million Rides; Spring Passes Available January 2"

By juan December 15, 2011 - 8:16 pm

The green pass is really helpful and helped me through my 2 years in acc, Thanks for making it available for students to use

By Brenna December 16, 2011 - 11:56 am

This pass is awesome! My extremely old truck broke down and the green pass could not have come at a better time. ACC has done a great thing for a great many number of people. By having these passes provided by ACC, we are friendly to the environment and also saving money that students and faculty can use towards their everyday lives. Thank you, ACC! Please keep up this great example of community working together to achieve greatness!

Thank you!

By Mr Ed December 21, 2011 - 9:49 am

I have used Cap Metro (and my bike) almost exclusively since Summer 2010. I am full time, I have attended PIN, RIO, and RIV campuses, I have perfect attendance and all A’s. I do not have a car payment, insurance, gas bill, or road stress/rage. Not to mention the health benefits. Using the bus also helps me schedule my time more effectively. I have met people and found very cool places in Austin that I NEVER would have found driving my car! It may not be the EASY way, but has the EASY way really ever done you any long term good? Check it out for one semester, pay attention, and you will have more money, better grades, and (maybe best of all) an entirely different perspective!

By Ed December 21, 2011 - 3:22 pm

Iam extremely proud of our community college. ACC has made a commitment to reduce pollution and better our air quality. I hope this program keeps going and growing. I started using the pass August of 2010 and rely on it daily. I use the bus pass for daily routines like going to class,tutoring on the weekends, and shopping purposes. Thanks Cap Metro and ACC for making my life easier. I DO NOT MISS paying car insurance, car maintenance, car wash, paying for parking,state fees. Think of all the savings. Best of all i dont have to drive or put up with stupid drivers.

By Andrew December 31, 2011 - 9:19 pm

Yes, I totally agree. The bus pass they provide for us is a SUPER-DEAL!!

By thelostone January 1, 2012 - 2:13 pm

I think that the bus pass is like totally hot. Like omg I loves it <3

By Rachel January 2, 2012 - 9:01 am

So happy to have my bus pass. I use mine everyday as well. I use it to get to work, school, the grocery store (yes even the grocery store! 🙂 EVERYWHERE! My only suggestion would be to make the passes more durable. By the end of the semester my bus pass is raggedy and barely works, even with replacing it mid semester. Why not find a way to use our student ids to board the bus? Our student ids will last forever and won’t have to be replaced every semester or in my case more than that. How many trees could we be saving by doing this? 🙂

By Steven Beaule January 2, 2012 - 12:43 pm

OMG This is magnificent! Thanks! 🙂

By nicholas January 2, 2012 - 3:16 pm

i still own a car but since ACC has introduced the green pass i have significantly cut down on my driving, saving money on gas and vehicle maintenance. i also like that i am being environment-friendly at the same time. the green pass system is a great service to students and staff and i have tried to take advantage of it as much as possible. i hope other students/faculty/staff also use the service, so that the system will be adopted in the long-term. my only small complaint is that the busses/rail do not run to the Round Rock campus, but that may be more of a municipal issue.

By Benny January 3, 2012 - 1:50 pm

The bus pass helped me out when both my car and truck broke down. It helped me get to work and to classes.

By Beth January 21, 2012 - 12:15 pm

The bus passes are fabulous and it sure would be nice if they were easy to get. The only way to obtain one is to go to the cashier’s office in person M-F 8 to 5 with 2 campuses being closed during the lunch hour 1-2. When you work 8-5 M-F it sure makes it hard to get the pass. I’ve taken off twice at lunch to head to the campus only to have to leave after waiting in line 20 minutes and still no pass. I only get 30 minutes for lunch. I guess I’m going to have to take off a whole day of work to go and get my bus pass. Please make the passes available somewhere other than the cashier’s office, they are FREE so no money need exchange hands.

By juan December 15, 2011 - 8:16 pm

The green pass is really helpful and helped me through my 2 years in acc, Thanks for making it available for students to use
By Brenna December 16, 2011 - 11:56 am

This pass is awesome! My extremely old truck broke down and the green pass could not have come at a better time. ACC has done a great thing for a great many number of people. By having these passes provided by ACC, we are friendly to the environment and also saving money that students and faculty can use towards their everyday lives. Thank you, ACC! Please keep up this great example of community working together to achieve greatness!

Thank you!
By Mr Ed December 21, 2011 - 9:49 am

I have used Cap Metro (and my bike) almost exclusively since Summer 2010. I am full time, I have attended PIN, RIO, and RIV campuses, I have perfect attendance and all A’s. I do not have a car payment, insurance, gas bill, or road stress/rage. Not to mention the health benefits. Using the bus also helps me schedule my time more effectively. I have met people and found very cool places in Austin that I NEVER would have found driving my car! It may not be the EASY way, but has the EASY way really ever done you any long term good? Check it out for one semester, pay attention, and you will have more money, better grades, and (maybe best of all) an entirely different perspective!
By Ed December 21, 2011 - 3:22 pm

Iam extremely proud of our community college. ACC has made a commitment to reduce pollution and better our air quality. I hope this program keeps going and growing. I started using the pass August of 2010 and rely on it daily. I use the bus pass for daily routines like going to class,tutoring on the weekends, and shopping purposes. Thanks Cap Metro and ACC for making my life easier. I DO NOT MISS paying car insurance, car maintenance, car wash, paying for parking,state fees. Think of all the savings. Best of all i dont have to drive or put up with stupid drivers.
By Andrew December 31, 2011 - 9:19 pm

Yes, I totally agree. The bus pass they provide for us is a SUPER-DEAL!!
By thelostone January 1, 2012 - 2:13 pm

I think that the bus pass is like totally hot. Like omg I loves it <3
By Rachel January 2, 2012 - 9:01 am

So happy to have my bus pass. I use mine everyday as well. I use it to get to work, school, the grocery store (yes even the grocery store! 🙂 EVERYWHERE! My only suggestion would be to make the passes more durable. By the end of the semester my bus pass is raggedy and barely works, even with replacing it mid semester. Why not find a way to use our student ids to board the bus? Our student ids will last forever and won’t have to be replaced every semester or in my case more than that. How many trees could we be saving by doing this? 🙂
By Steven Beaule January 2, 2012 - 12:43 pm

OMG This is magnificent! Thanks! 🙂
By nicholas January 2, 2012 - 3:16 pm

i still own a car but since ACC has introduced the green pass i have significantly cut down on my driving, saving money on gas and vehicle maintenance. i also like that i am being environment-friendly at the same time. the green pass system is a great service to students and staff and i have tried to take advantage of it as much as possible. i hope other students/faculty/staff also use the service, so that the system will be adopted in the long-term. my only small complaint is that the busses/rail do not run to the Round Rock campus, but that may be more of a municipal issue.
By Benny January 3, 2012 - 1:50 pm

The bus pass helped me out when both my car and truck broke down. It helped me get to work and to classes.
By Beth January 21, 2012 - 12:15 pm

The bus passes are fabulous and it sure would be nice if they were easy to get. The only way to obtain one is to go to the cashier’s office in person M-F 8 to 5 with 2 campuses being closed during the lunch hour 1-2. When you work 8-5 M-F it sure makes it hard to get the pass. I’ve taken off twice at lunch to head to the campus only to have to leave after waiting in line 20 minutes and still no pass. I only get 30 minutes for lunch. I guess I’m going to have to take off a whole day of work to go and get my bus pass. Please make the passes available somewhere other than the cashier’s office, they are FREE so no money need exchange hands.