UCLA Expands Free Transit Passes to More Staff Members

UCLA is taking another step to lighten the daily commute for its workforce while nudging the region toward greener travel. Starting this fall, any employee who makes under six figures a year can claim a free quarterly transit pass that unlocks unlimited rides on thirteen major Southern California transit agencies.

The new Tier 1 Plus program adds a handful of big names to the roster—L.A. Metro’s bus, rail and Metro Micro services, Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus, Culver CityBus, Long Beach Transit, LADOT Transit, Antelope Valley Transit Authority, Santa Clarita Transit, Foothill Transit, Gardena GTrans, Montebello Bus Lines, Norwalk Transit, Pasadena Transit and Torrance Transit. In practice, that means a staff member can hop on a Metro train, switch to a Big Blue bus, and still be covered, all without pulling out a wallet.

“We’re supporting our workforce by making it easier to travel to campus while also reducing regional traffic and emissions associated with commuting,” said Zenia Chamorro, senior transportation planner for UCLA Transportation. The sentiment is simple: when commuting gets cheaper, it’s cheaper for the planet, too.

The Tier 1 Plus initiative mirrors the income‑based tiers used for health insurance at UCLA. To qualify, employees must hold a minimum 43.75 % appointment and earn less than $100,000 annually. Roughly 20,000 staff members fall into that bracket, spanning both the university and UCLA Health.

This expansion is funded by a $3.5 million grant from the California State Transportation Agency’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. Those dollars will keep the program rolling until the grant is exhausted, Chamorro added.

The original Tier 1 program launched in winter 2023 for workers earning under $67,000 in operational and service units of UCLA Administration. It later grew to include the UCLA Library and the Emeriti/Retirees Relations Center, and hundreds of employees have already been riding for free each quarter. Building on that momentum, the university now rolls the benefit out campus‑wide and to UCLA Health.

“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,” observed Geno Mehalik, outreach and professional development manager at the Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center. He noted that higher gas prices, parking fees and housing pressures can erode wages, especially for those who can’t work from home.

Timing feels right, too. The Metro D Line subway extension to Westwood is slated to open in fall 2027, and broader rail expansions promise tighter links between Westwood, UCLA and communities across the county. For a campus of nearly 42,000 employees—many traveling long distances and on shifting schedules—more robust public‑transit options are a practical, cost‑saving lifeline.

Eligible staff can now sign up online for the fall quarter pass, which will go active on Sunday, September 13. It’s a small administrative step that could mean big savings on gas, parking tickets, and the stress of traffic.