Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass)

Starting January 1, 2022, only Arc cards will be accepted as proof of payment for students participating in the U-Pass program. Students at NAIT can continue to use their valid student I.D. to tap on/off buses and the LRT.

U-Pass programs are a group transit pass purchase that gives students enrolled in participating post-secondary institutions unlimited access to local regular transit as well as regional transit services. Through a partnership of participating transit systems, the pass is offered to students at a participating institution, as a group.

U-Pass is available through the Arc card, which students can will use to tap on/off buses and the LRT around the Edmonton region. Arc U-Pass cards are issued by participating post-secondary institutions. NAIT students can use their One Card to tap on/off buses and the LRT.

Learn more about the Arc Card and Smart Fare program

Participating U-Pass Post-secondary Institutions

U-Pass applies to the following post-secondary institutions in the Edmonton region:

Note: NAIT students can use their One Card like an Arc card to tap on/off buses and the LRT. Students must use their Arc card to tap on/off buses. Valid student ID cards will no longer be accepted as of January 2022.

Cost of the U-Pass

The following are the U-Pass per semester prices approved by Council for U-Pass agreements currently in place (September 2021 – August 2025) per a four-month semester:

School Year	Per semester Cost
2021/22	$180
2022/23	$180
2023/24	$180
2024/25	$180

School Year

Per semester Cost

2021/22

$180

2022/23

$180

2023/24

$180

2024/25

$180

Pass Validity Dates

U-Pass is valid for the following dates:

Fall Semester: August 25 - December 31

Winter Semester: January 1 - April 30

Spring/Summer Semester: May 1 - August 31

When using your Arc card, be sure to have your valid student I.D. with you, as both will be required if you are requested to show proof of payment. There is a $150 fine for fare evasion.

For more information about U-Pass, including eligibility and Arc cards, please contact your post-secondary institution. See Arc U-Pass Terms and Conditions for use of the Arc U-Pass card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I use U-Pass?

The Edmonton area U-Pass is a transit fare program providing participating post-secondary students with unlimited access to regular transit service on Edmonton Transit Service (ETS), St. Albert Transit (StAT), Strathcona County Transit, Fort Saskatchewan Transit, Spruce Grove Transit, Leduc Transit and Beaumont Transit during fall semester (September – December) and winter semester (January – April).

What transit services are not covered by U-Pass?

U-Pass does not include charter, special event or contracted services provided by ETS, St. Albert, Strathcona County, Fort Saskatchewan, Spruce Grove, Leduc Transit or Beaumont to outlying communities, or specialized paratransit services offered by any of the other municipal transit providers. U-Pass is accepted on Edmonton Transit DATS (Disabled Adult Transit Service) service.

Can any post-secondary institution participate in U-Pass?

Participation in the U-Pass program is available to any publicly-funded post-secondary institutions in the Edmonton region which have been included by Alberta Learning in their “Six Sector” classification model. Visit www.eae.alberta.ca for further information.

How does the U-Pass cost compare to a regular monthly pass or ticket?

U-Pass provides a group rate that is lower than the amount students would otherwise pay for monthly passes or tickets over the course of a semester, and provides unlimited travel throughout the region.

It is the group purchase approach that makes the lower price of U-Pass possible. While all participants can access the U-Pass on all participating transit systems, the pass is made available to a group irrespective of where individuals may live or their level of transit use. U-Pass programs are funded through mandatory fees paid by all eligible students in each semester they are registered. These fees are then transferred to the local transit authority.

The U-Pass price for Fall 2021/Winter 2022 is $180 per four-month semester, which works out to about $45 per month.

Has the U-Pass produced transit service improvements for students?

Transit service improvements are made in response to increased use. Transit use among participating students doubled with the introduction of U-Pass. Significant service improvements have in fact been made in response to the increased use since U-Pass implementation.

What are other benefits of a U-Pass program?

U-Pass programs offer students a way to lower their transportation costs, not only for school but also for unlimited transit use across the region including St. Albert, Strathcona County, Fort Saskatchewan, Spruce Grove, Leduc, Beaumont and Edmonton. This means options for housing, work and recreation are no longer restricted by transit costs. Benefits from reduced vehicle use include

Transit service improvements in response to greater demand
Reduced traffic congestion around the campus and local community
Reduced demand for parking facilities (fewer resources spent on facilities)
Reduced Greenhouse Gas emissions and their accompanying benefits

What type of fare product is used for U-Pass?

NAIT students will have their U-Pass loaded directly onto their valid student I.D. One Card, so they can tap on/off buses and the LRT. Starting January 1, 2022, all other students must use their Arc card to tap on/off buses. Valid student ID cards will no longer be accepted as of January 2022.

U-Pass is one of the products offered by Arc, our Smart Fare system. U-Pass is non-transferable, cannot be resold and is subject to inspection by transit operators. The pass is valid for a four-month semester - a new pass is needed for each semester: September to December, January to April, and May to August for schools that have the Spring/Summer U-pass.

The U-Pass is issued to students by their institution only.

If your school is part of the U-Pass program, check institution websites for dates and locations for pass distribution.

University of Alberta: www.upass.ualberta.ca
MacEwan: https://samu.ca/student-resources/academic-and-financial-support/u-pass/
NAIT: http://naitsa.ca/service-hub/upass/
NorQuest College: http://www.sanqc.ca/

Are students consulted about adoption of U-Pass?

A student referendum is required to implement a U-Pass program. Referenda are typically coordinated by a student governing council, and have typically occurred in spring, at the same time as student government body elections.

Which institutions are eligible to participate in the U-Pass?

Not all post-secondary institutions were involved in the initial three-year U-Pass pilot, however, with participating Councils approving a renewed three-year program, all post-secondary schools under Alberta Education’s “Six Sector Model” may choose to participate in the U-Pass program. Participation in the program is student-driven and would require majority support in a student referendum. Please contact your students’ association for further information and to indicate interest.

Can I opt-out of the U-Pass program?

The U-Pass pass program is made available to an entire student group irrespective of where individuals may live or their level of transit use. It is this group purchase that makes the lower price of the U-Pass possible and therefore there are very limited opt-out situations.

Registered students not enrolled in a credit course on a campus within the participating municipalities are not charged the U-Pass fee.

The following students may apply to opt-out of their U-Pass fee assessment:

Students registered with the participating municipalities as qualifying for Disabled Adult Transportation Services;
Students with a valid CNIB registration;
Students who are employees of a participating transit system;
Students enrolled in practicum or “work experience” courses who must fulfil their course requirements outside Municipal boundaries for the majority of that school term; and
Students whose registration at another institution also requires their participation in the U-Pass program.

Students who may opt-out of U-Pass under the above criteria will still be assessed their U-Pass fee unless they apply to opt-out of the program, and should contact their students’ association for further information.

How is the U-Pass program implemented?

Typically, student groups initiate U-Pass projects, either through campus interest groups or under the direction of their student councils or associations. An evaluation is then completed in cooperation with the transit provider(s);

Research and transit cost estimates are completed by transit partners, feasibility is evaluated and funding established;
A U-Pass price (the fee paid by students) is approved by City Councils of participating communities;
The U-Pass concept and price are brought to a student referendum.

Once students approve the U-Pass fee structure in a referendum, a formal agreement is signed between the local transit authorities and the post-secondary institution's students’ union/association, or the institution's administration. These agreements confirm the terms and conditions, including length of the program, eligibility, pricing and administrative procedures.

Is U-Pass offered during the summer?

The University of Alberta, MacEwan University and NorQuest College also offer Spring/Summer U-Pass (May - August).

Where else have U-Pass programs been implemented?

U-Pass programs are common at post-secondary institutions across North America, with 25 Canadian cities and over 50 institutions currently participating in a U-Pass program. Canadian cities include Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Saskatoon, Hamilton, London, Kingston, Peterborough, Guelph, Windsor and others.

What do I do if I lose my Arc U-Pass card?

If you are unable to find or use your Arc U-Pass card, contact your school and follow their steps for deactivating your pass, and reassigning it to a new Arc U-Pass card. Until you are able to obtain your new card, pay the proper fare to use the bus. Students must always have their valid U-Pass with them when riding transit as proof of payment.

What do I do if I board a bus that doesn’t have a tap on/off validator?

Students can show their Arc U-Pass card as proof of payment on any bus that does not have a validator or if the validator is not operating. If the validators are present and operating, the student is required to tap on/off.

For More Information

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Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass)

Learn more about the Arc Card and Smart Fare program

Participating U-Pass Post-secondary Institutions

Regional Transit Services

View more information about regional services

Cost of the U-Pass

Pass Validity Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

The U-Pass is issued to students by their institution only.

For More Information