ProPass

ProPASS is a collaborative program between BC Transit and the City of Kelowna, now available to UBC Okanagan employees. UBCO has partnered with these organizations to offer ProPASS as an incentive for employees to include transit as part of their commute.

Discounted Transit Passes for Faculty and Staff

With ProPASS, UBC Okanagan employees receive a 50% discount on monthly transit passes, thanks to a combined 35% UBCO Sustainable Transportation Subsidy and a 15% discount through Kelowna Regional Transit. This results in a reduced cost of $35 per month, compared to the regular $70 adult monthly pass. Employees must enrol in the program and commit to a four-month Pass Period to take advantage of this benefit.

How to Enroll in the ProPASS program

As a UBC Okanagan employee, you are eligible to enroll in the ProPASS program to receive a discount on adult monthly bus passes. Enrolment is online and each pass period is for four-months, i.e. one term at a time.

Enrolment for the Winter 2025 Pass Period is open from December 1 until December 31, 2024.

 

  1. Complete the online UBCO ProPASS Enrolment and Payment Form
  2. Your unique Umo Benefit Code will be sent to your UBCO email address within two business days of your purchase
  3. Once you receive your Umo Benefit Code:
    • Go to the Umo app and select Redeem Benefit Code from the top menu
    • Enter the unique Benefit Code provided to you to redeem your ProPASS
    • If needed, tap Change Agency to select your transit system (Kelowna Regional Transit)

BC Transit launched Umo, a digital fare payment system, in 2024 to modernize the transit experience across the Province. They introduced the Umo app as a comprehensive fare payment system, which also offers real-time information, maps, and alerts. As a result, UBCO will no longer distribute physical transit passes. Instead, a BC Transit Umo Benefit Code will be sent to your UBCO email address, which you can upload to your personal profile in the Umo app.

To start, search for the Umo Mobility app in your mobile app store and download it.  Open the app and follow the app’s instructions in order to create an account.

ProPASS FAQ

Enrolment will be open for the month prior to the start of each Pass Period:

  • Enrolment Open December 1 – December 31 for the Winter Pass Period (January – April)
  • Enrolment Open April 1 – April 30 for the Summer Pass Period (May – August)
  • Enrolment Open August 1 – August 31 for the Fall Pass Period (September – December)

The total cost for the Pass Period is $140 ($35 per month) for UBCO faculty and staff. A full price adult transit pass for the same period would be $280 ($70 per month).

No, you must commit to a full four-month Pass Period (example Summer: May – Aug). Refunds will only be considered for staff/faculty who leave the employment of UBCO within the middle of a Pass Period and are issued at the discretion of BC Transit for future calendar months. For example, if an employee who has enrolled for the Summer Pass Period leaves the employment of UBCO anytime during the month of June, they may only be eligible for a prorated refund for July and August.

As a ProPASS participant you can purchase discounted transit passes for yourself plus one other adult family member living in your household. Additional passes can only be purchased through the ProPASS Program online enrolment and payment process and cannot be added mid-Pass Period. The additional family member is only eligible for the 15% ProPASS discount. As a result, their ProPASS will cost $238 for each four-month Pass Period ($59.50 per month).

Monthly passes for Kelowna Regional Transit (including those purchased through UBCO’s ProPASS program) are accepted on the 90 UBCO/Vernon at no extra charge. However, these monthly passes cannot be used on other routes within the Vernon Regional Transit system.

Eligible groups may participate in ProPASS accessing the standard 15% discount of off regular monthly transit passes ($238 per Pass Period). Eligible groups may include UBC SUO staff or student groups who are not eligible for UPASS. Contact campus.planning@ubc.ca for more information or to determine if you are part of an eligible group before enrolling using the online form.

  1. Prior to boarding the bus, open the Umo app and from the home screen, select Code to display your dynamic QR code*
  2. Board the bus and present your QR code to the Umo digital validator
  3. Look and listen for the validator’s confirmation signals. A checkmark and single beep means your fare has been accepted

*Ensure you have successfully redeemed your unique Umo Benefit Code in the Umo app prior to your first transit trip

Your ProPASS benefit code can be uploaded and applied to a reloadable Umo card instead of within the Umo app*. For detailed instructions on using the Umo Card, visit BC Transit’s page on how to use the Umo Card. The paper & supply co. print shop located in UNC103 distributes free reloadable Umo cards and is the on-campus retailer for other fare products**

*The Umo app and Umo card cannot be used at the same time interchangeably – you can only have one payment method (app or card) linked to your Umo account at one time.

**For a complete list of fare vendor locations visit BC Transit’s page for where to buy an Umo Card.

If you have any additional questions about the ProPASS Program, please contact: transportation.ok@ubc.ca