How Gulf Coast State College is Removing Transportation Barriers

Panama City, FL– Getting to class just got easier for students at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida thanks to a new partnership providing free trolley transportation.

The college recently teamed up with Bayway Trolley to dramatically expand transportation access for its students and employees. By simply showing their college ID, students can now catch a free ride anywhere the Bayway Trolley routes extend throughout Bay County.

Transportation hurdles have long been a major obstruction to accessing higher education, especially for low-income students. Recognizing this challenge, Gulf Coast State aimed to tear down the transportation barrier through a creative new partnership.

“We were trying to reach the underserved communities in Bay County and most of them have two primary issues – access to the internet and transportation,” said Gulf Coast State President Glenn Kepczyk when announcing the program.

The free trolley access gives students an affordable, convenient way to get to campus for classes and activities. And employees aren’t left out – the college is providing magnetic strips for ID badges so staff can benefit too.

Since implementing the Gulf Coast Guarantee Scholarship Fund, the college has already seen a 27% jump in full-time enrollment. Now the Bayway Trolley collaboration helps remove yet another obstacle to education access.

The free transportation initiative aligns perfectly with Gulf Coast State’s mission to enhance the student experience. Students without cars can now seamlessly access campus resources, whether it’s attending late afternoon classes or group studying at the library.

By teaming up with Bayway Trolley, Gulf Coast State College is sending a clear message – a lack of transportation should never be the reason a student can’t pursue higher education. And this creative approach just may pave the way for similar partnerships between other colleges and public transit agencies.