Choosing a Transit Pass Program

TriMet offers two college pass programs with different costs and levels of student involvement. With a sticker on their college photo ID cards, students get unlimited travel on bus, MAX and Portland Streetcar for the entire term.

Select term Pass

Offer passes to interested students; pay only for passes used.
Read a sample case study

With this program, students choose whether to participate. Your college signs an annual contract and requests passes based on projected student participation. Order as many or as few passes as you like; the amount can fluctuate from one term to another. When a term is underway, return any unused passes and pay only for the ones used.

Universal Term Pass

Offer passes to all eligible students at significant savings.
Read a sample case study

Based on the number of qualified students enrolled for the fall term, you receive a price estimate and a one-year contract for your approval. With each new term, your total cost goes up or down along with enrollment. The price per pass represents significant savings over the Select Term Pass.

Sample case studies

These examples show how to choose a transportation program to meet your school's needs and achieve its goals.

Example 1: Select Term Pass

College A was running out of parking and lacked the resources to add more.

Actions: College A created an additional incentive for students by dedicating part of its parking revenue to partially subsidize Select Term Passes. The college and the students effectively share the cost of the program.

Outcome: Transit use increased and car trips decreased, so College A no longer needs to add more parking. Students are happy to save money, and excited to attend a school that cares about eco-friendly commute options.

Example 2: Universal Term Pass

Neighbors complained that College B's students took all the parking on nearby streets.

Action: College B gave every student a Universal Term Pass, paid for with part of the parking and transportation budget and student fees.

Outcome: Students now take more trips on transit and fewer in cars, so neighborhood parking problems have eased.