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universal pass

 
TriMet’s Universal Pass is an annual all-zone transit pass that employers purchase at a reduced rate for all qualified employees.The pass consists of a non-transferable validation sticker affixed to either an employer-issued photo ID or a TMA-issued Universal Pass photo ID. When the sticker is affixed to the ID badge, it becomes a valid transit pass.
 
For more information on this program contact Owen Ronchelli, owen@lloydtma.org
 
Benefits of Universal Pass include:
  • One year of unlimited riding on all TriMet buses, MAX Light Rail, WES Commuter Rail, Portland Streetcar, Portland Aerial Tram, LIFT paratransit vehicles, and most C-TRAN buses.
  • Access to a FREE ride home via taxi in case of an emergency during work hours (Emergency Ride Home).
  • An inexpensive alternative to driving your car, which helps reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.
  • A 10¢ discount at Starbucks when you show your pass.
 

Universal Pass Photos

Universal Pass photo IDs are issued Tuesday through Friday between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in the TMA office. The process takes about 5 minutes.   

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Universal Pass Eligibility Requirements

Universal Pass is available to any employer in the Lloyd District who commits to the purchase of a pass for every qualified employee at their Lloyd District worksite, regardless of whether the employee uses transit. In exchange for that commitment, employees receive an annual transit pass for about one-quarter of the normal price. The current cost of a regular TriMet all-zone annual pass is $968. 

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 Employee Commute Choice Survey

Each participating business is required to take the annual Employee Commute Choice Survey, produced by the TMA. The survey will be distributed internally by the business's Transportation Coordinator (or Universal Pass program coordinator). All qualified employees (see definition below) are to take the survey, whether or not they ride transit. The transportation coordinator will collect the completed surveys; once at least a 75% return rate has been achieved, the collected surveys are to be delivered to the TMA office for processing.
 
2010/11 Commute Choice Survey:
   Word
   PDF
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Qualified Employees

As part of a regional employer transportation program, TriMet offers the Universal Annual Pass Program (Program) to employers within the TriMet service district. Employers shall implement and maintain the Program at their worksite(s) according to the following program requirements:
 
A. Definition of A Worksite

1) A “worksite” is a building or group of buildings located at one physical location within the TriMet service district and under the control of an employer.

2) An employer with multiple worksites in the district may include out-of-district worksites, provided that the out-of-district worksite represents less than 25% of the employer’s total number of enrolled employees within the TriMet district.
 

B. Definition of A Qualified Employee

1) Participating employers must purchase a pass (validation sticker) for each qualified employee (100% participation) at each participating worksite regardless of whether the employee uses transit at the time of purchase.

2) For the purposes of the Program, a “qualified” employee is defined as any person on, or expected to be on, the employer’s payroll, full or part‑time, for at least six consecutive months, including business owners, associates, partners, and partners classified as professional corporations. Part‑time is defined as 80 or more hours per 28‑day period.

3) An employee who works at multiple worksites is considered a qualified employee at the worksite of his/her cost center. A cost center is the department through which the employee’s salary is paid.

4) Contract employees, per-diem employees, and/or temporary employees are considered qualified employees only if they are covered under the employer's benefits package and have been included in the employee commute options survey. 

5) Exempted from the Program are:
  • Part-time volunteers (defined as less than 80 hours per 28-day period);
  • Full-time volunteers (defined as 80 or more hours per 28‑day period);
  • Employees working less than part-time (less than 80 hours per 28-day period);
  • Field personnel required to use their personal vehicle as a condition of their job;
  • Employees whose regular work commute has either a start or an end time outside of TriMet’s service hours (service hours are 5:00 A.M through 1:00 A.M.);
  • Residents of the State of Washington;
  • Independent contractors;
  • Temporary or seasonal employees hired for a term of less than six (6) months;
  • Employees exempted by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for Employee Commute Option (ECO) rule purposes; and
  • Employees who have an annual transit pass from another source (i.e., employee is a TriMet dependent or works for two employers and has received a validation sticker through the other employer).

6) Subject to the following subparagraph (7), categories of employees and volunteers who are exempted from the Program, as defined in B.5) above, also must be excluded from the employee commute options survey. The total number of employee exemptions shall not exceed 50% of the employer’s total employee population.

7) If an employer wishes to include categories of exempted employees and/or volunteers in the Program, as defined in B.5) above, the exempted personnel to be included must have photo identification issued by the contracting employer and must be included in the employee commute options survey.
  • An employer must purchase a validation sticker for 100% of the category(s) of exempted personnel.
  • The exempted personnel must be surveyed prior to receiving validation stickers.
Employers do have the option to purchase Universal Passes for exempted employees; however, passes must be purchased for the entire group of exempted employees or volunteers, and that group must be included in the Lloyd District (LD) Commute Choices survey. Though the TMA and TriMet encourage employers to put a Universal Pass in the hands of every employee, each employer is free to issue and distribute the passes internally as best conforms to their policies and procedures. However, the Universal Pass may not be issued to or used by non-qualified employees, and is a valid fare instrument only for the person whose name and photo appear on the identification card.
 
Multiple Worksites

Worksites located outside the Lloyd District are eligible for Universal Pass. However, the cost per employee is based on the percentage of ridership at the site. A survey instrument is required to determine ridership participation at the worksite, from which the price per employee will be determined.  

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Payment and Cost-sharing

Employers may pass some or all of the cost of Universal Passes on to their employees; however, they may not charge an employee more than the original purchase price. Some employers charge a fee ranging from $10 to $122 per employee; others have their employees cover the full cost of the pass. TriMet does require that the employer pay the entire cost of all passes purchased up front. (Payments may be made in quarterly installments, subject to contract requirements). Internal arrangements between employers and employees remain exclusive to the business, and can even include an employee paying for a portion of their cost through pre-tax dollars. More information regarding pre-tax deductions can be found at http://trimet.org/employers/taxemployee.htm.
 
More tax benefit information can be found in a handout developed by the American Public Transportation Assocation.
 
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