Most UW Tacoma students and employees are eligible for U-PASS benefits that will automatically activate after you receive your Husky Card. Not sure if you are eligible? Just keep reading!
Benefits
Your U-PASS allows you to utilize the following benefits with a tap of your Husky Card:
- Full fare coverage on Metro Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, Everett Transit and Sound Transit buses
- Full fare coverage on Sounder Commuter train service
- Full fare coverage for paratransit services
- Subsidized vanpool fares
- Emergency Ride Home program (faculty and staff only)
Exclusions:
- Ferry service - riders can purchase an ORCA card or WaveToGo card for fare payment.
- Intercity Transit (Thurston County) is not in the ORCA network, but most of their services are currently free. Read more about their Zero Fare program here.
Eligibility & Activation
Student Eligibility
All undergraduate students and most graduate students have a mandatory U-PASS fee included in their tuition. If you pay the fee, you are eligible for the U-PASS.
Programs that do not include the U-PASS fee in their tuition:
- MCL - Master of Cybersecurity and Leadership
- MSACC - Master of Accounting
- GCSD - Graduate Certificate in Software Design
If you are in one of these programs and would like to opt-in to the U-PASS program, please contact transit@uw.edu. Opting in requires a $60 quarterly fee which currently must be paid via check.
Activation
There's no need to sign up or activate your benefits - they will start working automatically. Your U-PASS will activate within 12 to 24 hours of receiving your Husky Card, or one week prior to the academic quarter in which you are registered.
Maintaining your U-PASS benefits
To maintain your U-PASS activation between quarters, you must be registered for classes nine days prior to the start of the next quarter. If you do not do this, your U-PASS will be deactivated. To keep your benefits during the summer, you must be registered for summer quarter classes.
Replacement Husky Card
If your Husky Card is lost, stolen or damaged, your U-PASS will be electronically transferred to your replacement Husky Card. Your U-PASS will be available for use on transit 12 to 24 hours after your replacement Husky Card is printed.
Employee Eligibility
As of July 1, 2022, all paid University of Washington employees receive a fully subsidized U-PASS as part of their employment benefits.
This does not include:
- student hourly employees
- academic student employees
- unpaid academics or affiliates
- other appointees who are not paid
Activation
There's no need to sign up or activate your benefits - they will start working automatically. Your U-PASS will activate within 12 to 24 hours of receiving your Husky Card.
Replacement Husky Card
If your Husky Card is lost, stolen or damaged, your U-PASS will be electronically transferred to your replacement Husky Card. Your U-PASS will be available for use on transit 12 to 24 hours after your replacement Husky Card is printed.
Need help with your U-PASS?
If you still have questions about your U-PASS or need help troubleshooting an issue, please contact us at transit@uw.edu!
If you are having trouble accessing campus buildings (including Court 17 parking garage) with your Husky Card, contact Campus Safety & Security.
