Vote on the U-Pass Referendum. Your vote counts on June 7-11!

The Universal Pass (U-Pass), originally piloted in 2010, championed the goal of offering a lower-cost transportation option to students, reducing traffic congestion and lowering vehicle emissions, increasing transit ridership, and improving the mobility and transit access of students within the Edmonton region.

Currently, there is no spring term (May – August) U-Pass offered at NAIT. We want to hear from you if you’d like this service. Make your voice heard and vote! Voting will be open from June 7 -11, 2025. An email will be sent to all spring term students, with a link to Simply Voting, where you can cast your vote.

If this Spring Term U-Pass Referendum passes then those students enrolled would have a U-Pass valid for transit service May 1 – August 31.

*** Please note that the transit service offerings provided by ETS and surrounding municipalities are less frequent during May – August. We encourage you to check your nearest transit website for current spring offerings.

U-PASS REFERENDUM VOTING STARTS JUNE 7-11 @4PM

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Spring/Summer U-Pass Information

The Spring/Summer U-Pass contains the following key information:

  • If voted yes it would be in effect for 2026-2028. If voted no, there will be no U-Pass offered from May-August at NAIT.
  • Exemptions stay the same as the fall and winter terms.
  • ETS service offerings are less frequent May-August; however, the U-Pass will still operate in the following transit locations: Edmonton Transit, St. Albert Transit, Strathcona County Transit, Spruce Grove Transit, Leduc Transit, Beaumont Transit and Fort Saskatchewan Transit.
  • 10% of students must vote, and two-thirds of those who vote must vote “Yes” for the referendum to pass.
If the referendum passes, how much will the U-Pass cost?
  • Spring/Summer 2026: $180.00
  • Spring/Summer 2027: $182.50
  • Spring/Summer 2028: $185.00
Exemptions
U-Pass will remain mandatory for all credit, on-campus students at NAIT. Those who are ineligible for the U-Pass are as follows:

  • Apprentices
  • Students who take all of their classes online. (Note: this means there is no on-campus component such as labs, lectures, exams, etc.).
  • Non-credit students (For example: ESL, Continuing Education).
  • Students whose courses begin after the exemption deadlines.

The following students will be able to request an exemption:

  • Seniors
  • Those receiving financial assistance from AISH
  • Students who live greater than a 100km radius away from NAIT campus where their in-person classes are delivered.
  • Students who have a valid CNIB registration, DATS, SCAT or Handibus registration,
  • Students who work as transit staff.
  • Students who have a U-Pass from another provider for the same term.
  • Students who are on a practicum outside the service areas for longer than eight weeks per term.

U-Pass Referendum FAQs

WHEN DOES VOTING TAKE PLACE?
Voting takes place online from June 7 – 11, 2025
How long will the spring/summer contract last?
For 3 years 2026-2028, during the months of May-August.
IS U-PASS A LARGE DISCOUNT?
Monthly passes are no longer available and have been replaced by Arc cards with a monthly fare cap. The estimated discount over current rates ranges from 38% to 63%.

These discounts are expected to grow as Arc fare caps increase in the coming years.