Campus Life

2023-24 RIDEpass registration begins May 20

Credit: CATA. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Transportation Services will begin accepting online applications for the 2023-24 RIDEpass reduced-fare, mass-transit program beginning Saturday, May 20.

The RIDEpass mass-transit program provides access to all CATABUS routes to eligible University Park faculty, staff and graduate students for only $21 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.

Anyone interested in participating in the RIDEpass program during the 2023-24 program year, including current members, must complete a new online application at ridepass.psu.edu.

Faculty/staff and graduate student program-eligibility requirements for the program remain unchanged from the 2022-23 academic year:

  • Must be employed in a standing, fixed-term I, fixed-term multi-year, or post-doctoral position at University Park, or be enrolled as a graduate, law or medical student with University Park as the primary campus of enrollment.
  • Must live off campus at a residence that does not already participate in a CATABUS program.
  • Must live more than 0.75 miles (walking distance) from a CATA campus service Blue Loop, White Loop, or Red Link stop (Not sure if your address qualifies? Try using our distance web tool).
  • Must live within the CATA service area.
  • May not have a core Penn State parking permit (or must return this permit when purchasing the RIDEpass), but may register for commuter parking permit.

Upon successful completion of the application, participants will receive an email confirmation with details regarding when passes will be available for pickup at the Transportation Services Office. Current pass holders will have access to an early pickup period in May, while new member pickup will begin Thursday, June 1.

Current pass holders will be required to return their existing RIDEpass (which will expire on May 31) when picking up the new pass, and graduate student participants will also be required to return their existing evening/weekend parking permit if they wish to purchase a new permit. The Transportation Services Office is located at 1 Eisenhower Parking Deck and is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Anyone not currently enrolled in the RIDEpass program who wishes to obtain a pass for the remainder of the 2022-23 program year (through May 2023) must apply no later than Friday, May 19, with pickup required by 4:30 p.m. that day. These and all 2022-23 passes will expire on May 31.

Questions regarding program eligibility should be directed by email to ridepass@psu.edu. For general questions regarding the RIDEpass program and other programs offered by Transportation Services, call 814-865-1436.

Last Updated May 23, 2023