UCLA Transportation subsidizes eligible UCLA students and employee transit pass costs for seven transit agencies. Avoid traffic, relax, sleep, study or read while improving traffic congestion and promoting sustainability.
Prospective participants must fall into one of the categories below to be eligible to purchase a subsidized transit product:
- Current UCLA student enrolled for the academic quarter
- Faculty or employee holding an appointment time of 43.75% or more time
Featured Transit Programs
Undergraduate Bruin U-Pass
With the April 2023 passage of the UCLA undergraduate student transit pass referendum, undergraduates have fare-free access to select transit agencies throughout LA County including those serving UCLA through the Bruin U-Pass program.
Bruin Grad Pass
Through their student fees, eligible UCLA graduate students have access to the Bruin Grad Pass transit program, which enables use of select transit agencies throughout LA County including those serving UCLA.
Employee Commuter All-Access Transit Pass
Bruins who live near or far from campus can enjoy the convenience of riding transit to UCLA with the Commuter All-Access Pass. The pass includes unlimited rides on select transit agencies throughout LA County including all of the local and commuter express lines serving campus.
Try Transit Free for a Quarter
Our Bruin Commuter Transit Benefit program offers one free quarterly transit pass for eligible students, staff, and faculty. The pass is valid for any of the seven transit agencies serving the UCLA campus.
UCLA customers can purchase or renew their transit passes online at the beginning of each academic quarter. Please note that due to new Federal guidelines regarding subsidized transit passes, all UCLA students and employees purchasing a Go Metro pass are required to take a short one-time survey prior to making their purchase.
To purchase a transit pass online, please log onto the BruinTAP for Transit portal. You will need an established Bruin OnLine (BOL) account to access the portal. If you cannot access the online system or are having difficulties with your UCLA Logon account, please contact Bruin Online Customer Support at (310) 825-8000 or email consult@ucla.edu.
After securely logging in, please follow these steps:
1. Choose the product
2. Select buy
3. Choose your payment method*
4. Click continue and then submit your order
If you do not have a UCLA-issued TAP card, you may either pick it up at the Central Ticket Office (CTO) during business hours (recommended) or select to have it mailed to your address. If you already have a UCLA-issued TAP card, you will receive an activation code, instructions in your order receipt, and confirmation email to activate your pass upon placing an order.**
*Only UCLA staff and faculty with an appointment time of 43.75% or greater and with duration of nine months or more are eligible for payroll deduction. Payroll deduction authorization must be renewed each quarter.
**Non-quarterly transit passes (such as a 10-trip pass from AVTA or a 20-trip pass for LADOT Transit) can be loaded onto your TAP card at the Central Ticket Office (CTO).
OneBill Initiative
The OneBill Initiative consolidates your regular-term Tuition, Housing, Parking, and Transit student fees into a single BruinBill account called Regular Term Bill. The OneBill Initiative makes billing support straightforward by providing a centralized location for billing inquiries. When you reach the purchase screen you will only see the BruinBill option available. After completing your transaction, your Transit charge will be applied to your Regular Term Bill and all financial payments will be paid through your BruinBill account. For more information please visit onebill.ucla.edu.
If your TAP card has been lost, stolen, or damaged please log onto the Transit Portal to purchase a replacement TAP card for $2. Replacement orders are final and the $2 replacement fee is non-refundable.
Once you have purchased your replacement TAP card online, please go to the Central Ticket Office to pick up your card. If you have an active transit pass it will be loaded onto your new card upon pick up.
If you are using a TAP card that was issued by UCLA in 2016 or earlier, you will need to order a replacement card to take advantage of the subsidized passes.
BruinBus provides complimentary year-round service to the UCLA campus and Wilshire Center. Everyone is welcome to board at one of our many stops. BruinBus also offers charter and driver services to UCLA departments and student organizations.
For more information visit the BruinBus page and for current service view the BruinBus route map. Live bus tracking is available on the real-time map or the TripShot app, available for download from Google Play or the App Store.
With the April 2023 passage of the UCLA undergraduate student transit pass referendum, undergraduates have fare-free access to select transit agencies throughout LA County including those serving UCLA through the Bruin U-Pass program. Students can enjoy unlimited rides on the local lines serving UCLA: Los Angeles Metro bus and rail lines, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Culver CityBus; the four commuter lines with direct access to campus: Antelope Valley Transit, Santa Clarita Transit, Long Beach Transit, LADOT Commuter Express, and more!
Learn more about Bruin U-Pass and how undergraduate students can request one.
Through their student fees, eligible UCLA graduate students have access to the Bruin Grad Pass program, which enables use of select transit agencies throughout LA County including those serving campus: Los Angeles Metro bus and rail lines, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Culver CityBus, Antelope Valley Transit, Santa Clarita Transit, Long Beach Transit, and LADOT Commuter Express.
Learn more about Bruin Grad Pass and how eligible graduate students can request one.
The UCLA co-pay option for Santa Monica Big Blue Bus and Culver City Bus allows students and employees who aren't regular transit riders to take advantage of a discounted rate.
Here's how to take advantage of the discount:
1. Purchase the co-pay online for $2.00
2. If purchasing a new UCLA TAP card, select whether you would like to pick up your TAP card or have it mailed to you.
3. If you have an existing UCLA TAP card and are purchasing co-pay for the first-time, you will receive an activation code and instructions in your order receipt and confirmation email to activate your pass upon placing an order.
4. Load funds to your card at CTO, a TAP vendor location, or by calling 1-866-TAPTOGO (1-866-827-8646)
5. TAP your card when you board and ride for $0.70
Bruins who live near or far from campus can enjoy the convenience of riding transit to UCLA with the Commuter All-Access Pass. The pass includes unlimited rides on the Antelope Valley Transit, LADOT, Santa Clarita Transit, and Long Beach Transit commuter express lines. Pass holders can also enjoy unlimited rides on select transit agencies throughout LA County including all of the local lines serving campus: Los Angeles Metro bus and rail lines, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, and Culver CityBus.
UCLA’s Tier 1 Transit Pass Program offers eligible employees making less than $68,000 annually a free quarterly Commuter All Access Pass. The Tier 1 Transit Pass program was created in an effort to aid recruitment and retention of front-line staff in Administration who often have job positions that require them to be on campus every day.
Learn more about eligibility requirements and how to participate.
The UCLA/Westwood Commuter Express Powered by Long Beach Transit offers three commuter buses in the morning and three in the evening Monday through Friday.
Learn more about the stops, schedules, and how to purchase fares.
Eligible UCLA students and employees can purchase a quarterly or 20-trip pass for Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) Commuter Express buses at a discounted rate. There are currently three direct routes to UCLA:
• Line 431: Westwood to/from Downtown LA
• Line 534: Westwood to/from Downtown LA/Union Station
• Line 573: Westwood to/from Encino
Learn more about the stops, schedules, and how to purchase fares.
Take advantage of convenient routes and schedules on SCT Commuter Express buses (Route 797/792), offering direct service between several Santa Clarita Valley communities and UCLA/Westwood.
Learn more about the stops, schedules, and how to purchase fares.
Enjoy direct service between Lancaster/Palmdale and UCLA with quarterly passes for the AVTA Commuter Express bus (Route 786) at a subsidized rate.
Learn more about the stops, schedules, and how to purchase fares.
Most public transit providers operate in the same manner and their services are easy to use if you follow a few simple guidelines.
Make sure you know what bus line you'll be taking. It is quite possible for more than one bus line or service provider to arrive at the stop where you are waiting. Knowing the specific transit provider (e.g., Metro, Santa Monica, Culver City, LADOT) and the route name (e.g., Line 6 Sepulveda Blvd) is important. Be sure to note any special information regarding the route on the schedule, such as express or limited service.
Have enough cash on hand. Better yet, get a Transit Access Pass (TAP) online through the BruinTAP for Transit portal. Most buses require exact change and may require an additional charge when you transfer to another bus or use an express route. Knowing the entire cost of your trip ahead of time will make it much easier when you board the bus.
Hail the bus like you would hail a cab. Don’t assume that the driver will know you are waiting for their particular bus. Buses do not automatically stop at all posted locations. It is customary to signal the bus just as you would hail a cab. Once aboard, be sure to let the driver know you want to get off before you arrive at your destination. All buses have a cord or pressure strip you can activate to indicate you want to get off at the next posted stop.
Roll with it. All the preparation in the world can be affected by weather, traffic accidents and other delays. Arrive for your bus at least five minutes before the schedule indicates and be prepared with an alternate plan in case you or the bus is delayed or canceled. If your commute is particularly time sensitive, try riding an earlier bus.
Additional Resources
Transit App or Moovit (Trip Planning Apps)
Commute Options
Expo Line Extension
