FAQ: Carleton University Students
What’s happening with next year’s U-Pass?
The student federations at Carleton University will hold a referendum in mid-February, putting the U-Pass to the vote.
Students will be asked whether or not they want to continue for the next three years with a U-Pass priced at $180 per term, plus up to a 2. 5% inflationary cost in the second and third years.
Without a successful referendum result, the U-Pass will not be available after April 2012, and the cheapest alternative for student riders will be OC Transpo’s student monthly pass, currently priced at $75 each month - or $300 per term if four months are required. Express passes cost more, at $88 per month. Infrequent riders can use tickets, priced at $2.60 per trip on the bus, or $2.85 on the O-Train.
The Carleton undergraduate referendum is held on February 16 and 17. For more information check the CUSA website (Carleton).
What is the Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass) and how much does it cost?
In 2009, student associations at both Carleton University and the University of Ottawa jointly negotiated with the City of Ottawa to implement a Universal Transit Pass for full-time students at both universities. The result of the negotiations and the subsequent student referenda is the U-Pass: A bus pass offered through Carleton University at a discounted rate. The pass will cost $290 for the eight-month school year and is a mandatory cost for all full-time students. The pass is valid on all OC Transpo vehicles providing regular, express, rural express or Para Transpo services, and the O-Train. Only Para Transpo service to rural zones requires a supplemental fare.
Is the U-Pass available for the 2011-2012 school year?
Yes. The 2011-2012 U-Pass is effective from September 1, 2011 until April 30, 2012.
Why does Carleton University have a U-Pass?
In February and March 2010, the Carleton University Students’ Association and Carleton’s Graduate Student Association sponsored referenda during their annual elections asking students if they would support paying $290 per academic year ($145 per term) for the U-Pass. In both elections, just over 70 per cent of students voted for the U-Pass. At the request of CUSA, GSA and OC Transpo, Carleton has worked to implement the U-Pass so it can be distributed to students for the 2010 fall term.
Who is entitled to a U-Pass?
The U-Pass is now a mandatory program for all full-time students with a small number of exceptions (see below). At Carleton, a full-time undergraduate student is defined as a person taking at least 1.5 credits per term, while a graduate student’s eligibility is defined by their full-time status in a program.
How does the U-Pass benefit students?
The U-Pass benefits students because it offers a significant discount on transit services in Ottawa. Normally, students who ride OC Transpo that buy regular monthly (student) bus passes for a school year, or eight months, pay $586, or if they buy two regular semester passes they pay $500. The U-Pass is $290 for the eight-month school year (Sept. 1 through April 30) . This is a savings of $210 compared to semester passes, and $296 compared to monthly passes.
The U-Pass also helps reduce road congestion, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and results in a more sustainable community. For students that frequently drive or travel by another mode, the U-Pass provides an alternative mode of travel if your vehicle breaks down. Students that drive could also use one of the many free Park and Ride lots, conveniently located throughout Ottawa. Finally, students that cycle could travel on OC Transpo by boarding an OC Transpo bus equipped with a bike rack, or the O-Train, and this can help reduce your travel time.
Where and when can I get my Universal Transit Pass?
For students enrolled in full-time courses in the fall term, distribution of the U-Pass will be communicated to students by Carleton University and the Students’ Association.
I do not want to participate in the U-Pass program. What should I do?
Based on the CUSA and GSA referenda, the U-Pass is a mandatory program and all full-time students must participate. There are a few exceptions (see below).
Are there some situations that allow an adjustment for the U-Pass (or an exemption from the program) while I am a full-time student?
The following groups of students can seek adjustments for the U-Pass:
- Students who have designation with the Canadian Institute for the Blind. (They already receive free transit passes).
- Students who are going on an international exchange that is formally sanctioned by Carleton University for the terms they are out of the country. They must be away for 60 days or more.
- Students who reside in the STO service area (Gatineau, Cantley, Chelsea) are exempt from participating in the U-Pass program. (Driver’s licence or health card and a utilities or phone bill will be required for proof of residence). Please contact your student association to ensure you do not get charged for the U-Pass.
- Students who are on an internship or conducting research as a part of their studies outside of Ottawa for a period of 60 days.
Fee adjustments can be obtained by completing an online U-Pass Exemption Application form on Carleton’s U-Pass website www.carleton.ca/upass and submitting it to Carleton’s Office of Student Affairs . The forms can also be obtained from Campus Card/Info Carleton , The Office of Student Affairs, the Business Office, the CUSA office , and the GSA office. Please allow five business days for processing.
NOTE: Carleton University Students who want to discuss exemptions must contact the Students’ Association by phone at 613-520-7400 or by e-mail at .
Are part-time students eligible for the U-Pass program?
No. Only students with full-time status are eligible for the U-Pass program.
Do I have to pay the U-Pass fee if I live outside Ottawa and drive to campus, or if I take a bus that begins its route outside Ottawa and it is not an OC Transpo bus or STO Bus?
Full-time students that reside in Ontario and outside the City of Ottawa have to pay the mandatory U-Pass fee of $290, including those students that drive their car. Students that choose to ride a bus that begins its route outside the City of Ottawa (for example Route 530 in Rockland) have to pay the mandatory U-Pass fee, and in addition, if they choose to ride a bus route that begins its route outside the City of Ottawa they will have to pay the appropriate fare to ride that bus. Students living outside the City of Ottawa can use one of the many free Park and Ride lots conveniently located throughout the City of Ottawa.
Is my U-Pass valid on Para Transpo?
The U-Pass is valid on Para Transpo. Para Transpo service to rural zones requires a supplemental fare.
Will I be able to claim the federal tax credit for public transportation?
Yes. You will be able to claim $145 in each of the two tax years. Any student charged the U-Pass fee will be able to download a receipt from their Carleton Connect account. For the 2011 tax year, receipts will be available on or before February 28, 2012. If you have any questions about your U-Pass receipt, please contact the Students’ Association by phone at 613-520-7400 or by e-mail at
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