UCLA Expands Fare‑Free Public Transit to Employees Earning Under $100,000

UCLA is trying to make the daily grind of getting to campus a little less stressful – and a lot greener – by widening its fare‑free public‑transit program. Starting this fall, any staff member who earns under $100,000 a year can snag a free quarterly pass that unlocks unlimited rides on 13 major transit networks across Southern California.

What does that actually look like on the ground? Picture a UCLA professor hopping on an L.A. Metro bus, a student services coordinator boarding the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, and a health‑center tech riding the Culver CityBus – all without pulling out a card or worrying about the fare. The pass also covers Metro rail, Metro Micro, Long Beach Transit, LADOT Transit, Antelope Valley Transit, Santa Clarita Transit, Foothill Transit, Gardena GTrans, Montebello Bus Lines, Norwalk Transit, Pasadena Transit and Torrance Transit.

“We’re supporting our workforce by making it easier to travel to campus while also reducing regional traffic and emissions associated with commuting,” explains Zenia Chamorro, senior transportation planner for UCLA Transportation. The sentiment is clear: a smoother ride for staff equals fewer cars on the road and a smaller carbon footprint.

The new Tier 1 Plus program mirrors the income‑based tiers used for health‑insurance benefits. To qualify, employees must hold at least a 43.75 % appointment, work for UCLA or UCLA Health, and earn below the $100 k threshold. Roughly 20,000 Bruins fit the bill, and they can now register online for a pass that kicks in on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Funding for the expansion comes from a $3.5 million grant awarded by the California State Transportation Agency’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. Those dollars will keep the program humming until the grant runs out, Chamorro says.

The initiative builds on a pilot launched in winter 2023 – the original Tier 1 – which targeted employees earning less than $67,000 and working in operational and service units. After a successful rollout that eventually stretched to the UCLA Library and the Emeriti/Retirees Relations Center, the university decided to broaden the net across campus and the health system.

For many staff, the timing couldn’t be better. “As the cost of living in Los Angeles continues to rise, commuting has become an increasingly significant part of the true cost of employment for UCLA staff,” notes Geno Mehalik, outreach manager at the Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center. Higher gas prices, steep parking fees, and a housing market that pushes workers farther from Westwood all chip away at take‑home pay, especially for those who can’t work remotely.

Adding to the optimism is the ongoing growth of the regional rail network. The Metro D Line subway extension, slated to reach Westwood in fall 2027, will soon link directly to campus, and Metro’s broader rail expansion plans promise even tighter connections throughout L.A. County. For UCLA’s nearly 42,000 employees – many of whom travel long distances and keep varied schedules – the expanded free‑transit option is both practical and budget‑friendly.

In short, if you’re a Bruin employee earning under six figures, you can now sign up online, receive a quarterly pass and hop on any of the 13 participating services without worrying about the fare. It’s a small change that could make a big difference in daily life, the environment, and the bottom line.