Employer Pass Program: Cutting Your Commute Costs on Transit
If you are not on the Employer Pass Program (EPP), you may be missing out on a chance to save money on your commute. This program facilitates the purchase of discounted annual transit passes for employees. If your company isn't already participating, talk to your employer and find out if there are 25 co-workers ready to join for a minimum of 12 months.
There are two types of passes: one for buses, SkyTrain and SeaBus (including community shuttles) and another for the West Coast Express. With just one pass, you have unlimited access to public transit within the indicated zone(s) on weekdays, and access to all zones on weekends, statutory holidays and after 6:30 p.m. weekday evenings - perfect for running weekend errands, without having to pay for additional transit fares!
You have unlimited access to public transit within the indicated zone(s) on weekdays
Find out more in the FAQs below, and send your employer the link to Discounted Transit Passes page so they can see the benefits of providing this program.
FAQs on Employer Pass Program
- How much money am I going to save?
- What's the catch?
- Can I lend my pass to a co-worker when I'm on holidays or to a friend over the weekend?
- Besides saving money, are there any other benefits?
- Can I suspend my pass for any reason?
Q: How much money am I going to save?
A: On average, about 15%. Depending on which pass you need and how many zones you travel, you'll save anywhere from $126 over one year for a 1-zone bus pass, to $580.50 over one year for a 3-zone West Coast Express pass.
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Cost for Employer Pass Program: Bus Pass
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Regular $/month
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Employer Pass $/month
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Regular $/year
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Employer Pass $/year
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1 Zone
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$81
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$70.50
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$972
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$846
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2 Zone
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$110
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$94.92
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$1,320
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$1,139.28
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3 Zone
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$151
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$130.08
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$1,812
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$1,560.96
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Cost for Employer Pass Program: West Coast Express and Bus Pass (based on return trip to Waterfront)
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Regular $/28-day pass
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Employer Pass $/month
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Regular $/year for 28-day pass
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Employer Pass $/year
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1 Zone
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$178.75
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$164
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$2,323.75
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$1,968
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2 Zone
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$217
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$200
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$2,821
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$2,400
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3 Zone
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$298.50
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$275
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$3,880.50
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$3,300
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Q: This is TransLink's way of encouraging commuters to take public transit. The more cars off the road (in particular those with only a driver) the fewer greenhouse gas emissions we're producing and the fewer new roads and travel lanes need to be built..
Q: Can I lend my pass to a co-worker when I'm on holidays or to a friend over the weekend?
A: This pass is personalized with your name and the name of your employer and is not transferrable. Technically, the pass belongs to TransLink so you'll need to return it if you drop out of the program or leave the company.
Q: Besides saving money, are there any other benefits?
A: While the EPP can't be combined with other discount programs (such as FastTrax if you're also a student), you may use your pass to take another adult and up to four children on transit at no extra charge on Sundays and statutory holidays. The convenience of payroll deduction for the annual card means no more trips to purchase FareCards/FareSavers. The pass also qualifies for the 15% federal personal tax credit.
Q: Can I suspend my pass for any reason?
A: You can suspend your pass for the following reasons: maternity/parental leave, long-term disability leave, or temporary assignment. All suspensions are for a minimum of three months.
Share your own experience with the Employer Pass Program by submitting a comment below.