ECOPASS
The ECOPASS is a transit pass available through a payroll deduction program with registered employers. This pass offers up to a 15% savings compared to a monthly pass.
The ECOPASS is a one-piece photo ID card, and is valid until the renewal date for as long as you continue to make payroll deductions. Monthly pass vouchers are not required if you use the ECOPASS.
What You'll PayECOPASS deductions per pay period:
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Payroll Deduction Program
How to Register
Consult with your employer to find out if ECOPASS is offered, and to arrange payments. ECOPASS is available to many Federal Government departments and other organizations. NOTE: The ECOPASS is offered to Ontario residents only.
When ECOPASS is introduced to a new location, OC Transpo staff will visit your department or agency. Employees will need to submit a completed application form that has been approved by their payroll, compensation, or human resources department. OC Transpo staff will take your picture and provide your ECOPASS.
If you cannot make it on the day OC Transpo visits, your compensation advisor or payroll administrator will provide you with a completed application form, that you can present at any OC Transpo Sales and Information Centre to obtain your ECOPASS.
OC Transpo Sales Centres will only process ECOPASS registration after the 20th day of the month prior to the effective date of your ECOPASS.
¬ Federal Government
You can visit publiservice.gc.ca to see if your department is already on board, as we have have almost completed our full rollout of the program to Federal Government departments and agencies. You can also find information regarding ECOPASS enrollment, cancellation, transfers or pass modification.
¬ Other Organizations
Your Employer must be registered with the program in order for you to participate. Please speak to your Human Resources department or your Payroll department, and have them contact for more information on registering their company. At this time, we require a commitment from 25 or more full-time permanent employees within a company.
Payroll Deductions
The deductions will begin to show on your pay stub as per the following info:
¬ Federal Government
Your deduction will be on the first pay of each month, not including months with 3 pay periods as the deduction in this case will be on the second pay.
¬ Other Organizations
The first deduction occurs on the first full pay period following our visit to your company or from the date of your enrollment. Each company's payroll schedule varies, but we will provide you with the dates when we visit your company.
STO Service / Québec Residents
The ECOPASS is accepted on STO service.
The OC Transpo ECOPASS is offered to Ontario residents only. The STO offers residents of Quebec their own Payroll Deduction pass, which is accepted on OC Transpo routes.
Lost Your ECOPASS?
The cost of a replacement ECOPASS is $25.00 that is fully refundable should you find your original ECOPASS. Please note that you are allowed a maximum of 2 replacement ECOPASS.
¬ Federal Government
Please send an email to with your name, department, the date your ECOPASS was lost, and your preferred Sales and Information Centre to obtain your replacement ECOPASS. We will then confirm the information and advise you when you can then visit the Sales and Information Centre to obtain your new ECOPASS. Should you find your lost ECOPASS after having notified us, please advise us as we can update your file immediately.
¬ Other Organizations
Please visit your company administrator to obtain a replacement voucher. Once the administrator has entered the information into our online system, please take your voucher to any one of our Sales and Information Centres to obtain your new ECOPASS.
ECOPASS Renewal Date
ECOPASS is issued with a renewal date, and will not be accepted after the end of the month in which your pass must be renewed. To renew your ECOPASS, visit an OC Transpo Sales and Information Centres and bring your current ECOPASS.
PLEASE NOTE that ECOPASS payroll deductions will continue until you formally cancel your pass, regardless of expiry date. A cardholder is required to renew their ECOPASS at an OC Transpo Sales and Information Centre within 6 weeks of the pass expiry date. Please note that expired ECOPASSes may be confiscated and/or a provincial offence notice issued. If you no longer wish to use your ECOPASS, please see below under Cancellation.
Cancellation
A one-year commitment is required to register for ECOPASS, during which time cancellation is not permitted, except for the extenuating reasons listed in the terms and conditions of your contract, including:
¬ Change of Work Location
If bus travel is no longer an option as a result of a new workplace location, you may discontinue the payroll plan and hand in your ECOPASS.
¬ Change of Residence
If you change residences to a location outside of the OC Transpo Urban Transit Area – or a location inside the UTA but now within walking distance of your workplace, you may discontinue the ECOPASS plan.
If you wish to cancel your ECOPASS subscription after the initial year, simply advise your ECOPASS administrator or compensation advisor, and return your pass.
¬ Federal Government
If you wish to cancel your ECOPASS and you are a federal government employee, you will need to complete a cancellation form and submit it to your compensation advisor by the 15th of the month prior to the desired cancellation month. The form and instructions regarding the card return process can be found at http://publiservice.gc.ca/services/transit/indexe.htm. Failure to return your ECOPASS upon cancellation will result in continued liability and an invoice will be issued.
¬ Other Organizations
For all other subscribers, you must contact your company's ECOPASS administrator in order to cancel your pass. Your pass must be returned to your administrator when cancelling. Failure to return your ECOPASS upon cancellation will result in continued liability and an invoice will be issued.
Changing Departments: Federal Government
If you change departments within the federal government and as a result will cancel your ECOPASS subscription, you will need to advise your compensation advisor by the 15th of the month prior to the effective date of cancellation. This can be done by submitting a cancellation form to your compensation advisor.
You may also be able to keep your ECOPASS and simply change administrators. For further details, please visit publiservice.gc.ca (federal government employees only)
Temporary Suspension or Non-use
Cancellation or suspension of payments for holidays or seasonal use is not permitted. The ECOPASS program offers almost two months of free transit, to cover holidays and other periods where you may not ride frequently.
Family Members
The ECOPASS family option is NOT available at this time.
Tax Credit
The ECOPASS qualifies for the transit tax credit. If you are an ECOPASS subscriber, please retain your pay stubs for Income Tax purposes. ECOPASS subscribers will be contacted through their employer should more information become available.
ECOPASS Administrators
Sign in to manage ECOPASS accounts.
Airport
Avoid Park and Fly charges by taking route 97 to the Airport. From downtown to the Ottawa International Airport, route 97 takes just 25 minutes.
Express homebound/outbound
Regular fare on Express routes, at selected bus stops
Transecure Employee of the month
Transecure Employee of the Month for December 2009 is Jian Bai.