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FaSt Pass and COASTER Pass for Faculty and Staff

FaSt Pass

Goodbye ECO Pass. Hello FaSt Pass

The ECO Pass was discontinued as part of the transition to the PRONTO fare system; however, Transportation Services has partnered with MTS and NCTD to keep our colleagues moving, with our Fa(culty)St(aff) Pass.

FaSt Pass is a PRONTO system calendar month pass that incorporates the 25% discount Transportation Services receives for pre-purchasing passes in bulk. It provides pass holders unlimited access to all regional MTS and NCTD bus and trolley routes, excluding:

  • NCTD: COASTER Train, FLEX and LIFT
  • MTS: Rural Routes (888, 891, 892 and 894), Rapid Express Routes (currently 270, 280 and 290) and Access

You can purchase FaSt Pass by payroll deduction only. If you no longer wish to participate in the FaSt Pass program, you may cancel at any time by sending an email to iride@ucsd.edu before the 15th of the preceding month. All automatic payments are final unless canceled by the 15th of the month.

Learn how to use FaSt Pass: FaSt Pass Tutorial Video.

FaSt Pass Trial Program

We know that once you try transit, you’ll be hooked, so we’ve made FaSt Pass free for your first three months for qualified staff. After the first three months, you’ll incrementally step up to the regular FaSt Pass rate. The FaSt Pass Trial Program is a pilot program and is subject to change.

Eligibility and Enrollment:

  • You must be a payroll deduction eligible UC San Diego faculty or staff member who works at the La Jolla campus or UC San Diego Health – La Jolla or Hillcrest.
  • You cannot purchase a payroll deduction or “consecutive days” parking permit during the six-month discounted trial period.
  • If your eligibility changes or you purchase a disqualifying parking permit during the trial period, Transportation Services may terminate your FaSt Pass.
  • FaSt Pass is for personal use only and may not be sold, transferred or used by any other individual.
  • Payroll eligible faculty and staff can enroll in the transportation portal by selecting the “$0 FaSt Promo” and completing the sale.
  • Enrollments completed by the 25th of the month will be processed for activation on the 1st of the following month. For example, an employee enrolling by September 25 will have the FaSt Pass activated on their PRONTO account for use on October 1.
  • Pre-tax payroll deductions will be processed in advance and as follows:
    • Free FaSt Pass ($0/month) the 1st, 2nd and 3rd months
    • Half-price FaSt Pass ($27/month) the 4th, 5th and 6th months
    • Full-price FaSt Pass ($54/month) beginning the 7th month and will continue at the full price rate until canceled in writing

COASTER Pass

The COASTER Pass is a PRONTO system, calendar month pass that provides COASTER commuter rail access, in addition to unlimited access to all regional MTS and NCTD bus and trolley routes, excluding:

  • NCTD: FLEX and LIFT
  • MTS: Rural Routes (888, 891, 892 and 894), Rapid Express Routes (currently 270, 280 and 290) and Access

You can only purchase COASTER passes by payroll deduction. If you no longer wish to participate in the COASTER Pass program, you may cancel at any time by sending an email to iride@ucsd.edu before the 15th of the preceding month. All automatic payments are final unless canceled by the 15th of the month.

  • 2-Zone COASTER Promo pricing $161
  • 3-Zone COASTER Promo pricing $182
  • SDM COASTER Promo pricing $58

SDM COASTER users must be prequalified for SDM products, see MTS SDM Application. Please forward your SDM approval email to iride@ucsd.edu with the headline “SDM Approval” and one of our customer service specialists will update your account to access SDM products in the portal. Once you complete this step, you may purchase SDM products in the transportation portal.

COASTER Pass Trial Program

We know that once you try transit, you’ll be hooked, so we’ve made COASTER Pass free for two months for qualified staff. After the first two months you’ll automatically continue at the regular COASTER Pass rate. The COASTER Pass Trial Program is a pilot program and is subject to change.

New and returning payroll deduction eligible faculty and staff not currently participating in annual parking, transit or COASTER deductions are eligible to participate in the COASTER Pass Trial Program. The COASTER Pass Trial is available once per eligible person. If your eligibility changes or you purchase any of the listed disqualifying permits during the trial period, Transportation Services may terminate your COASTER Pass. The UC San Diego COASTER promotional pass is for personal use only and may not be sold, transferred or used by any other individual.

  1. Create your PRONTO account. All COASTER riders must create a PRONTO mobile account with their @ucsd.edu email address and have either PRONTO virtual card or physical card linked to their account prior to initiating products from UC San Diego.
  2. Link your PRONTO account to the UCSD Employer Program (after 9/10).
    • Under the “Manage” tab, select “Student and Employee Programs.”
    • Select “UCSD Employer Program.”
    • You should receive a “Link Successful” message. If you receive a “Link Unsuccessful” message, you will need to verify that your email address matches what UC San Diego has on file by sending an email to iride@ucsd.edu with the subject “PRONTO Help.”
  3. Sign up for the COASTER promo on transportation portal by “purchasing” the “$0 2-Zone COASTER Promo” or “$0 3-Zone COASTER Promo” by the 25th of the month for access on the 1st of the following month. For example, to start COASTER Pass Promo on October 1, you must complete the transaction by the 25th of the month before.

Pre-tax payroll deductions will be processed in advance and as follows:

  • 2-Zone COASTER Pass, $0 (months 1 & 2), $161/month thereafter
  • 3-Zone COASTER Pass, $0 (months 1 & 2), $182/month thereafter
  • SDM COASTER Pass, $0 (months 1 & 2), $58/month thereafter