Ride Transit Program

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If you are a Ukrainian national who arrived on or after February 24, 2022 with the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), you are eligible for the Ride Transit Program and Leisure Access Program.

Learn more and apply at CUAET Leisure Access & Ride Transit Program - Application Form .

The Ride Transit Program provides greater access to Edmonton Transit Service by reducing financial barriers for individuals and families in Edmonton. Through a partnership with the Government of Alberta, this program provides monthly passes to eligible Edmontonians at a subsidized rate.

Please note that Ride transit passes are non-transferableand intended for use only by the eligible Ride transit participant.

Arc will be available to Ride Transit pass holders in 2023. Visit myArc.ca for updates.

If you are a first-time applicant, please visit New Applications for more information.

Ride Transit Passes Purchase Options

Online Purchases

Purchase your pass at ride.edmonton.ca 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We accept: credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), VISA Debit, Debit Mastercard, or prepaid VISA/Mastercard.

Note: To use the Ride Transit Program online store, you must have an online account.

To have an online store account created for you, please email businessdevelopment@edmonton.ca to request one.

You may also purchase your first pass over the phone by calling 780-423-RIDE (7433). During this phone call, you can request to have an email invite sent to you, so your future passes can be purchased online. This email invite will be sent to you within 2-4 business days of your request.

If you are signing up for the auto-debit program, you will not be eligible to have an online account as only one of the two methods of purchase is permitted at the same time.

Over-the-Phone Purchases

Call 780-423-RIDE (7433) Monday-Friday between 8am-4:30pm.

You can purchase your first pass over the phone. During this phone call, you can request to have an email invite sent to you, so you can purchase future passes online. This email invite will be sent to you within 2-3 business days after your request.

We accept: VISA Debit, Debit Mastercard, VISA, Mastercard, American Express, or prepaid VISA/Mastercard.

Auto-Debit

This automatically deducts the cost of your pass from your bank account a few weeks before the applicable month, and your pass is mailed to you. This is the easiest way to purchase your pass and save time. Once we have entered your banking information, a confirmation email will be sent to you.

Please review the Terms and Conditions, fill out the form and then either mail the completed form to the mailing address on the top of the form, or email your documents to etscustomerprograms@edmonton.ca. You will need to include a VOID cheque or Pre-Authorized Debit form from your bank in your submission.

If you would like to cancel auto-debit payments, please email etscustomerprograms@edmonton.ca at least ten business days before the next scheduled pre-authorized debit withdrawal.

In-Person Purchases

If you need to purchase a pass with cash or regular debit, you can do so at select City recreation centres (Commonwealth, Clareview, Terwillegar, The Meadows) or at the Edmonton Service Centre (Monday-Friday between 8am-4:30pm).

Last Day and First Day to Purchase a Monthly Pass

Pass Month	Last Day for Purchase	First Day for Purchase
May 2022	May 5: by phone May 8: online May 14: In person at City of Edmonton Rec Centres May 25: In person at Edmonton Service Centre	April 10: by phone April 11: Online April 13: In person at Edmonton Service Centre April 15: In person at Edmonton Rec Centres
June 2023	June 2: by phone June 5: online June 14: In person at City of Edmonton Rec Centres June 26: In person at Edmonton Service Centre	May 8: by phone May 8: In person at Edmonton Service Centre May 9: online May 15: In person at City of Edmonton Rec Centres
July 2023	July 7: by phone July 10: online July 14: In person at City of Edmonton Rec Centres July 24: in person at Edmonton Service Centre	June 5: by phone June 6: online June 12: In person at Edmonton Service Centre June 15: In person at City of Edmonton Rec Centres

New Applications

If you are not a Leisure Access Program member, fill out the Leisure Access and Ride Transit Programs Application Form .

The approval process currently takes approximately 4-6 weeks, depending on the time of year and number of applications received. You will receive a letter or email once approved, which will include further information on the programs.

Conditional approvals are offered only at the time of completed application submissions. The completed application:

Must be filled out,
Must be signed,
Have all qualifying and supporting documentation,
Applicant is required to have a government-issued photo ID. (Some conditions will apply.)
Make an appointment at the Edmonton Service Centre (2nd floor of Edmonton Tower, 10111 104 Ave NW) to ensure our staff can adequately review your application.

If you are a Ukrainian national who arrived in Canada on or after February 24, 2022, with the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), you are eligible for the CUAET Leisure Access & Ride Transit Program . Please visit the Leisure Access Program page for more information, including how to apply for both programs (even if you are looking for the Ride Transit programs only).

Application Form

Leisure Access and Ride Transit Program

Eligibility

If your income is less than the low-income cut-offs (LICO) + 10%, or you qualify from one of the following eligibility criteria, you qualify for a $35 monthly transit pass:

You are on AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) or you receive the CPP-Disability Benefit (Canada Pension Plan)
You are on Government of Alberta Income Support or Learner Income Support
You are a new Permanent Resident or a refugee (to qualify, you must have been in Canada less than one year and have not filed a tax return)
You are a child under government care
You are receiving any type of government Employment Insurance (EI) (only the individual receiving EI will be eligible)
You provide a letter from a Registered Social Worker or Partnering Social Agency confirming your eligibility for the program
Post-Secondary Students who are not receiving a U-Pass in the summer may qualify for the Ride Transit program from May - August. They must qualify using the required income verification documents listed. Some conditions apply.

If your income is between 10% and 25% above LICO, you now qualify for a $50 monthly transit pass.

Leisure Access & Ride Transit Program Application Information

Household Income Qualifications

People in Household	Household Income ($35 monthly pass)	Household Income ($50 monthly pass)
1	$30,265	$30,266 - $34,393
2	$37,679	$37,680 - $42,818
3	$46,322	$46,323 - $52,639
4	$56,241	$56,242 - $63,910
5	$63,788	$63,789 - $72,486
6	$71,941	$71,942 - $81,751
7	$80,095	$80,096 - $91,018

Please note:

Income thresholds are subject to change based on Canada Revenue Agency low-income cut-offs.
Eligible household is yourself, your partner/spouse and dependent children aged 17 or younger (dependents over 17 need to submit a separate application form with their income and address verification documents).
To calculate total household income, add the total incomes from Line 15000 of your and your partner/spouse’s (if applicable) previous year’s Notice of Assessment. You are eligible if your total household income is equal to or less than the income shown above with the number of eligible household numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ride Transit Program the same as the Leisure Access Program (LAP)?

The application/renewal process is the same and you will automatically be considered for both programs. Please note that even if you qualify for LAP, you are not eligible for a monthly pass under the Ride Transit Program if you are:

A child 5 years old or younger
A Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) card holder (free when you display your CNIB identification when boarding)
26% above the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) or unable to provide income verification documentation
A child under government care who receives a transit pass from Child and Family Services

How do I apply? What if I only want a transit pass?

Citizens who want to apply for the Leisure Access Program or ETS Ride Transit Pass Program can apply for both programs with one application.

It is completely optional for participants to use the recreation facilities and attractions offered by joining the programs. There is no charge for the Leisure Access membership. Ride Transit and Leisure Access are two separate programs that share the same application process. Together, they offer eligible Edmontonians a full range of benefits.

Please note that your Leisure Access membership card or government issued photo ID is required to purchase a monthly transit pass at the subsidized rate of $35 or $50 and your recreation membership card is the best ID to use.

What if I have just arrived in Canada and have not filed taxes yet?

Newcomers to Canada can provide a copy of confirmation of Permanent Residence or Refugee protection claimant document as long as arrival dates are within one year for each person applying.

Financial Empowerment Program

Do you want to explore options to improve your financial situation? This free and confidential service will connect you to information to help you reach financial security.

For more information, visit edmonton.ca/financialempowerment.

For More Information

Contact ETS

Telephone	311
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Instagram	https://www.instagram.com/EdmontonTransit/
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