Loyola University Chicago

The CTA U-Pass is your ticket to unlimited riding aboard CTA buses and trains.  It offers all full-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in participating programs unlimited use and an unparalleled opportunity to take advantage of everything Chicago has to offer.  No cash is needed.  It’s your connection to shopping, sports events, social activities, art and entertainment centers and anything else that grabs your attention.

STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR THE U-PASS PROGRAM

The following students participate in the CTA U-Pass Program:

• All undergraduate students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours at the Lakeside Campuses (Water Tower and Lake Shore Campuses):
  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • School of Business Administration
  • School of Communication
  • Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing
  • St. Joseph Seminary
  • School of Education
  • School of Social Work.
• Graduate students enrolled in 8 or more credit hours at the Lakeside Campuses as follows:
  • School of Law
  • School of Social Work
  • Institute of Pastoral Studies
  • Graduate School of Education
  • Graduate School of Arts and Science

The U-Pass Program is not available to any students enrolled in Loyola’s Rome Center Campus or in any other programs located in foreign countries.  Also, students enrolled in the Loyola University Medical Center, Graduate School of Business, Graduate Nursing, Educational Cohorts, and Social Work Carthage programs will not participate in the CTA U-Pass Program. ELS classes are counted for undergraduate students only.

A University ID is required to pick up a U-Pass.

DISTRIBUTION SITES AND HOURS FOR LAKE SHORE AND WATER TOWER CAMPUSES

Law School Distribution:

Law School distribution will occur on Monday, January 12 and Tuesday, January 13 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. in Suite 1460.  Students who do not have a pre-printed pass and do not have their pass made during this time will not receive their U-Pass until February 2.

After the mass distribution on January 12 and 13, Law School students who had a pre-printed pass (registered by December 15) and did not pick their U-Pass up on January 12 or 13 may pick it up from the Information Desk located on the third floor of the Terry Student Center.

All Other Pass Distribution:

Students who registered by December 15 may begin picking up their U-Pass on Sunday, January 11 (see below for time and place).  The Water Tower Campus passes will be available for early pick up in the Centennial Forum Student Union Lobby (LSC) on Sunday only.  Spring U-Passes will NOT be active until Monday, January 12.

Beginning Monday, August 25, passes will be distributed by campus:

Lake Shore Campus

• All undergraduate students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours will pick up their Upass at the Lake Shore Campus. This includes students enrolled in Undergraduate Business, Communication and Social Work.
• Graduate students enrolled in 8 or more hours in the Graduate School of Arts and Science.

During these times, CTA will be available to make on-site U-Passes for any students who qualify but did not have a pre-printed pass.  Students who do not have a pre-printed pass and do not have their pass made during this week will not receive their U-Pass until February 2.

Water Tower Campus 

• Graduate students enrolled in Graduate Education, School of Social Work, and the Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS) who are taking 8 or more Loyola University credit hours.
• Erickson Institute hours are not considered Loyola University credit hours.

During these times, CTA will be available to make on-site U-Passes for any students who qualify but did not have a pre-printed pass.  Students who do not have a pre-printed pass and do not have their pass made during this week will not receive their U-Pass until February 2.

HOW TO RECEIVE YOUR U-PASS AFTER THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL

For students who qualify for the U-Pass program and did not pick up their pass during the mass distrubution period described above: 

Lake Shore Campus: Students should inquire about the pass at the Information Desk located in the lobby of the Centennial Forum Student Union. 

Water Tower Campus: Students should inquire about the pass at the Terry Student Center on the third floor of 26 E Pearson Street.

After the end of the business day on January 26, any student adding classes to full-time status will not be eligible for a U-Pass and will not be assessed the fee; anyone dropping below full-time status will not be deactivated for the remainder of the semester and charges will not be removed from the student account.  Students who picked up a pass, but dropped to part-time status prior to January 26 will have their pass deactivated around the first of February and will not be assessed the charge.

U-PASS FEE

U-Pass fee is $88; $97 for Law School and is included in student tuition fees valid from January 12 until the last day of final exams.  This fee is non-refundable.

HOW IT WORKS

On the bus: Insert and remove your U-Pass into the bus farecard machine on the right side of the farebox with the magnetic strip facing you and the blue arrow pointing down (Make sure you don’t insert it into the dollar bill slot).

On the train: Insert your U-Pass into the turnstile card slot with the magnetic stripe facing you and the blue arrow pointing down.  When the green 'enter' light goes on, take your U-Pass and go through the turnstile.

RULES AND CONDITIONS

• The school name, student name, photo and expiration date must appear on the card.
• U-Pass is limited to exclusive use by the original full-time student card owner.
• U-Pass may not be shared; violators may be arrested and passes will be confiscated.
• U-Pass use is subject to applicable tariffs, conditions, rules, regulations, policies and procedures that the CTA may adopt using discretion.
• If any conditions are violated, the pass will be confiscated for the remaining term without reimbursement.

LOST OR STOLEN

Students bring their valid student I.D. and $35 (cash, credit card or money order) replacement fee to the CTA general offices located at 567 W. Lake St. downtown Chicago. A replacement U-Pass will be issued and sent to the school within 5-7 business days. CTA will replace lost or stolen U-Pass cards only once per academic term.  Upon receipt of the pass by the school, the student will be notified via email to pick the pass up at the Information Desk at CFSU or TSC.

CAPTURED IN FARE EQUIPMENT

On the bus…When the U-Pass is mistakenly inserted into the bus dollar slot, it is the student’s responsibility to complete an operator provided Report of Captured Farecard report. Students bring the report along with a valid student I.D. to the CTA general offices. Because the student inserted the card into the wrong slot, they do not receive a temporary transit card although a free transfer is available upon request.

At the rail station…After the U-Pass is captured at the station, students are to locate the customer assistant to complete a Fare Discrepancy Report (FDR) and receive a free $3.60 transit card to complete their ride. The student then brings the accurately completed FDR and valid student I.D. to the CTA general offices to request a new U-Pass. CTA will provide a temporary transit card and a replacement U-Pass will be issued and sent to the school administrator within 5-7 business days (CFSU at LSC or the respective Dean’s office at WT).

**If the student fails to get the Report of Captured Farecard or FDR, it may take up to two weeks to replace the U-Pass. Should this happen, students must call 1.888.Your CTA to track down their report. Using the bus route number or rail line, students are to contact the garage specific to the bus or train the card was captured. Have them ask the transportation manager to fax the report containing the card information to the CTA general offices. With the fax and valid school I.D. brought to the CTA reaffirming the card was captured, a U-Pass will be sent to the individual school (CFSU at LSC or the respective Dean’s office at WTC). CTA will not provide a free replacement pass without the report to verify the card was captured.

DEFECTIVE, DAMAGED OR DEMAGNITIZED

On the bus…If at times CTA fare equipment can not read a U-Pass, the bus operator will allow the student to complete the ride for free however the cardholder must bring the defective, damaged or demagnetized U-Pass along with a valid student I.D. to the CTA general offices to request a replacement. CTA will immediately issue a temporary transit card and a replacement U-Pass will be sent to the school within 5-7 business days (CFSU at LSC or the respective Dean’s office at WTC).

At the rail station…The student should present their U-Pass to the customer assistant to have it inspected. To receive a free replacement pass, students bring the defective, damaged or demagnetized pass and valid I.D. to the CTA general offices. CTA will issue the student a temporary transit card and a replacement U-Pass will be sent to the school within 5-7 business days (CFSU at LSC or the respective Dean’s office at WTC).

Contact Information

Students are encouraged to contact the Loyola U-Pass Administrator at upass@luc.edu

Student U-Pass inquiries or comments should go to the CTA U-Pass Hotline at 312.664.7200 ext. 3051, Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  Students are advised to leave a voicemail message and a U-Pass representative will return the call within one business day.

ALL replacement requests are completed in person at the general offices on 567 W. Lake Street. Take the Red Line to the Lake stop and then the Green Line to the Clinton stop and head east one block. Walk to the second floor Customer Service Department to request a new U-Pass which will be delivered to your school within 5-7 business days.

CTA Address
Chicago Transit Authority
567 Lake Street, 2nd floor
Chicago, IL 60661

You can also visit www.transitchicago.com.