About the U-Pass
What is the U-Pass?
The U-Pass is a Universal Transit Pass which provides unlimited access to Winnipeg Transit transportation services in exchange for a mandatory fee. It is a program offered by the City of Winnipeg, facilitated by UMSU – as well as the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association for students at the UofW – in which all full-time students within the Winnipeg Transit service area pay a subsidized bus pass fee and have unlimited access to transit from September to April the following year. It has been in existence since being approved in 2016 referendum, and the first contract expired at the end of the 2019/2020 academic year. After a referendum, UMSU’s Board of Directors officially voted to save the U-Pass program, and will continue to operate.
To read about the 2020 referendum click here, and to see the poll results click here.
*Note: The Fall Term U-Pass is valid September 1 – December 31. The Winter Term U-Pass is valid January 1 – April 30. Currently, there is no Spring/Summer U-Pass.
How Much is the U-Pass?
The U-Pass is Term-based, there is a Fall U-Pass and a Winter U-Pass, at the current rate of $215.60 per term. This is applied directly to the accounts of undergraduate students enrolled in a minimum of nine credit hours in a term, and is payable along with tuition. To see whether you are eligible for the U-Pass, check your Aurora account summary by term and look at the detailed cost breakdown for the Term to see the U-Pass fee; if it is there, you can pick up your U-Pass.
When Did the U-Pass Begin?
UMSU members voted in a referendum in Fall 2014 to approve a mandatory U-Pass for all full-time students. City Council officially approved the implementation of the U-Pass in March 2015. The U-Pass program officially launched in Winnipeg in September 2016.
Where to get a U-Pass?
You can visit us at the UMSU Service Centre or Answers Bannatyne during our business hours to pick up your U-Pass. Please bring your student ID with you.
Additional Information
You can use your U-Pass to ride Winnipeg Transit buses for the entirety of the Term in which you are eligible, without additional fares. Note: Your Student ID with the U-Pass sticker is required, along with the U-Pass when boarding a Transit bus to utilize the U-Pass. If the appropriate Student ID is not presented, students risk confiscation of their U-Pass.
Students are not to sell, barter or give away their U-Pass, as the penalty could be confiscation of the U-Pass and possible fines.
Note: Post-Secondary Monthly Transit passes and other Winnipeg Transit fare products will continue to be sold at both the UMSU Service Centre & Answers Bannatyne. If you are experiencing issues purchasing a Post-Secondary Peggo card from the UMSU Service Centre, please check with the Registrar’s Office to confirm your eligibility, as students must be registered in order to receive the student rate.