Peralta Colleges' AC Transit EasyPass Program
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AC Transit EasyPass?
AC Transit’s EasyPass program would provide students enrolling in and maintaining 9+ units at Peralta Colleges with an AC Transit discounted bus pass that is valid at any time on all AC Transit lines, both local and transbay. The program enables the Peralta students to purchase passes for every student within a specific participant pool.
Purchasing passes for an entire pool offers EasyPasses to college students at a significantly discounted rate when compared to regular AC Transit bus fares because the costs are spread among many participants. The program uses the TransLink® regional fare card with photo ID as the fare instrument.
Why EasyPass?
By offering unlimited rides on all AC Transit lines, EasyPass programs can introduce and familiarize students to bus transit as an alternative, encourage cost savings and green activity, and reduce parking demands and traffic congestion. AC Transit wants more people to use transit instead of driving single occupancy vehicles.
Peralta students would save as much as $1,528 annually using an EasyPass compared to a years worth of 31-day transbay passes, so students pay only 4% of the full fare!
How does EasyPass work with other Bay Area transit?
Each EasyPass is loaded onto a TransLink card, which is a convenient way to pay for transit rides in the Bay Area. The TransLink card stores value for transit passes like the EasyPass. It also stores electronic cash (e-cash) onto your TransLink EasyPass for easy access to other transit systems in the Bay Area. Golden Gate Transit and Muni are already accepting TransLink cards, with BART soon to follow this summer.
How much will EasyPass cost Peralta students?
In a seven-year program, students would pay according to the following schedule:
• For Fall 2009-Spring 2012, Peralta Colleges students would pay $31 per semester per student ($62 annually).
• For Fall 2012-Spring 2015, students would pay $36 per semester per student ($72 annually).
• For Fall 2015-Spring 2016, students would pay $41 per semester per student ($82 annually).
Who is eligible for a Mills EasyPass?
The program would be valid for all students enrolled in and maintaining nine or more units for the fall and/or spring semesters. Students dropping below nine units during the semester would have their EasyPass deactivated. Students enrolled only in summer classes would not be eligible. Currently, about 11,000 students would be eligible for the program.
How long would the program be valid?
The program would be valid for seven-years, starting Fall 2009.
Fall 2009-Spring 2010
Fall 2010-Spring 2011
Fall 2011-Spring 2012
Fall 2010-Spring 2013 (fare increase)
Fall 2013-Spring 2014
Fall 2014-Spring 2015
Fall 2015-Spring 2016 (fare increase)
What is the validity of the EasyPass program each semester?
The Fall 2009 EasyPass would start one week prior to the first day of instruction. The Fall pass would overlap with the first week of instruction of the Spring semester. The Spring semester pass would start one week prior to the first day of spring instruction and would end one week after the start of Fall semester instruction.
The Spring semester EasyPasses would be valid throughout the summer. However, students enrolled only in summer classes would not be eligible to receive an EasyPass.
How does the EasyPass TransLink card process work?
All students would be required to use a TransLink card with a photo ID. The EasyPass is not refundable or transferable to anyone else. If someone other than the person identified on the card uses the pass, AC Transit personnel or the Alameda County Sheriff’s department could confiscate the card. A fine of up to $250 and/or community service could be imposed (California Penal Code 640). Students would “tag” the TransLink card on the card reader at the front of any bus each time they board.
Peralta would work with AC Transit to develop a process for distributing the passes to students.
Is the pass valid on the Dumbarton Bridge Express service?
The EasyPass would be valid on all AC Transit local and transbay bus lines. The pass would not valid on the Dumbarton Express.
What are the AC Transit bus fares if the EasyPass student referendum does not pass?
On March 11, 2009, AC Transit Board of Directors voted in increase bus fares as of July 1, 2009. The new fares will be:
• $2.00 for adult fare
• $.25 for transfer
• $80 for 31-day local pass
• $132.50 for 31-day transbay pass
For more information about the Peralta EasyPass, visit http://www.peralta.edu/easypass.
