The RIDEpass mass transit program provides access to all CATABUS routes to eligible University Park faculty, staff, and graduate students for only $24 per month. Transportation Services covers the remaining cost of each pass to encourage the use of mass transit, reduce vehicle congestion on campus, and promote sustainable transportation.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must be employed in a standing, fixed term I, fixed term multi-year, or post-doctoral position, or enrolled as a graduate, law, or medical student, with University Park as the primary campus of employment or enrollment

PROGRAM RULES

• Faculty and staff participants may not have a core daytime-access Penn State parking permit (or must return this permit when purchasing the RIDEpass mass transit pass) but may have a Commuter permit.
• Passes are valid at any time on all regular CATABUS and CATAGO routes – RIDEpass required upon boarding.
• Passes are not transferable and may be used only for the transportation of the individual to whom the pass is issued.
• Passes are the property of CATA and Penn State Transportation Services and must be returned upon termination of employment or enrollment, change in eligibility or upon request by either party.
• Passes are not valid on any other CATA service, including CATARIDE, the Football Shuttle, Charters, or any special shuttle service, whether open to the public or not.

DISTRIBUTION OF PASSES/PROGRAM PAYMENT

Graduate Students: RIDEpass mass transit permits can be purchased by visiting the RIDEpass webpage and using the Token Transit purchasing link. Passes must be purchased on a monthly basis via credit card.

Faculty/Staff: Initial registration must take place in person at the Transportation Services Office, at which time participants will select their preferred payment method - payroll deduction or credit card. Following registration, faculty and staff will be able to purchase or claim their pass using the appropriate Token Transit link (based on their selected method of payment) on the RIDEpass webpage.

For employees paid monthly participating in payroll deduction:

• The cost of the bus pass will be deducted from the employee’s paycheck issued on the last working day of each month.

For employees paid bi-weekly participating in payroll deduction:

• The cost of the bus pass will be deducted from the employee’s paycheck at a biweekly equivalent. The biweekly equivalent is equal to the monthly rate multiplied by 12 months and divided by 26, or $11.07 per paycheck for a monthly pass cost of $24.00.

Payroll deduction will continue without interruption until the employee surrenders their bus pass to the Transportation Services Office. Faculty and staff participants who select payroll deduction for their payment method must contact Transportation Services before the start of the new month if they do not wish to participate. This is necessary to stop payroll deductions. No refunds will be issued if prior communication is not made.

All RIDEpass terms and conditions are subject to change at any time, with any changes communicated to pass holders through their preferred email address.

Effective July 1, 2026