An annual all-zone transit pass employers can purchase at a reduced rate per employee for all qualified employees.

The Universal Pass (formerly called Passport) is a non-transferable photo ID affixed with a TriMet validation sticker.

Once your employer affixes this sticker to either your employee photo ID badge or to a TriMet Universal Pass photo ID badge, it becomes a valid transit pass and serves as your bus and MAX fare.

See the results from this year's 2008 TMA Annual Report ('07 survey results).  The report shows detailed results of the transportation choices Lloyd District employees made regarding how they access their work site.  It also measures the amount of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduced over the past year (and a comparison to previous years) due to the choice employees have made in alternative mode travel (i.e., transit, carpool, bike, walk, etc.).

How does Universal Pass benefit me?

• It entitles you to one year of unlimited riding on TriMet bus routes, MAX trains, Portland Central City Streetcar, LIFT and the C-Tran #65 Parkrose Limited bus (Vancouver).
• Access to a FREE ride home via taxi or rental car in case of an emergency during work hours. Click here to find out more.
• It offers an alternative to driving your car, helping to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.
• A 10¢ discount on your Starbuck's coffee when you show your Universal Pass sticker.
• To find out if your company participates in TriMet's Universal Pass Program, contact your Transportation Coordinator or Human Resources representative.

Where and when are Universal Transit Pass photos taken?

Universal Pass photo IDs are taken Tuesday through Friday from 11:00AM to 4:00PM on the third floor of the Lloyd 700 Building, 700 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 340. The process only takes about 5 minutes of your time.

WHAT ARE ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS FOR PASSPORT?

2008 LD Commute Choices Survey Form:  2008 Commute Choice Survey.doc (MS Word) or 2008 Commute Choice Survey.pdf (Acrobat)

Who can purchase Universal Pass?

The Universal Pass is available to any employer of the Lloyd District who commits to the purchase of a Universal Pass for every "qualified" employee based at their Lloyd District work site. For that commitment, TriMet will offer the pass for $211 per employee for September 2007 - August 2008, which translates to $17.58 per month, per qualified employee. The cost of a regular TriMet all-zone annual pass is $836.

How does TriMet define a qualified employee?

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

• For the purposes of Universal, 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.
• 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.
• Contract employees, per-diem employees, and/or temporary employees are considered qualified employees if they are covered under the employer's benefits package and have been included in the survey.  Otherwise they are excluded from the count of Universal qualified employees for that employer.
  

Are there exemptions to the qualified employee definition?

Employees who meet any of the following criteria are excluded from the count of Universal qualified employees: 

• Part-time volunteers (defined as less than 80 hours per 28-day period);
• Full-time volunteers (defined as less than 80 hours per 28-day period);
• Employees working less than part-time (less than 80 hours per 28-day period);
• Employees working a non-scheduled work week;
• Field personnel required to use their personal vehicle as a condition of their job;
• Employees whose regular work commute has either a start or and end time outside of TriMet's service hours (service hours are 5:00 AM through 1:00 AM);
• Employees whose permanent residence is located 20 or more miles outside the TriMet service district boundary;
• 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 souce (i.e., employee is a TriMet dependent or work for two employers and has received a sticker through the other employer).
  

Note: As of 2005, employers are now allowed to exempt Clark County residents from their list of qualified employees.  However, if the employer chooses to include those residents, they must puchase passes for all of their qualified Clark County residents.

Can an employer purchase a Universal Pass for an employee who is one of the exemptions listed above?

Yes. Employers have the option to purchase for exempted employees, however, passes must be purchased for the entire group of exempted employees and/or volunteers, not just a few employees, and they must be included in the Lloyd District (LD) Commute Choices survey.

If an employer is required to purchase an annual pass for every qualified Lloyd District employee, does the employer have to issue each qualified employee a pass?

No. 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 the policies and procedures of the affected employer. However, the Universal Pass fare instrument 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.

Can work sites outside of the Lloyd District receive a Universal pass?

Yes. Work sites located outside the Lloyd District can receive Universal pass. However, the cost per employee for the Universal pass varies by location and is based on the percentage of ridership at the business site. In some cases, the rate is lower than the Lloyd District's cost per employee. A LD Commute Choices survey is required at the work site from which the Universal Pass price per employee is determined.

Can employers share the cost of the Universal Pass with employees?

Yes. Employers have the option of re-selling some or all of the cost of the Universal Pass to their employees, however, the resell price cannot exceed the employer's purchase price per employee. The TMA and TriMet have found a variety of ways how employers implement the program. Some charge employees a fee ranging from $10 to $100 per employee, per year. Other companies have their employees cover the full cost of the Universal Pass. TriMet only requires that the employer sign the Universal Pass contract and pay part of the cost up front (it can be paid in semi-annual installments). Internal arrangement between employers and employees remain exclusive to the business, and can even include an employee paying for a portion of their Universal Pass Program cost through pre-tax dollars. More information can be found regarding pre-tax deductions on the Department of Transportation's web site, http://www.ridemcts.com/services/business/factsheet.html.

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