About Caltrain GO Pass and VTA Eco Pass
The 2008 GO and Eco passes are now available at Parking & Transportation Services. The GO Pass, available FREE to eligible Stanford University employees, allows unlimited travel on Caltrain between all zones.
The Eco Pass, available FREE to eligible hospital and university employees, allows unlimited travel on the following transit services:
- VTA buses (including express buses)
- VTA light rail
- Dumbarton Express
- Highway 17 Express
- Monterey-San Jose Express
Both the GO Pass and the Eco Pass are valid for the full calendar year, seven days a week. Use them to commute to Stanford, to travel free to a Giants' game, to get to the airport, or to skip exorbitant parking rates while spending the day in the city...and use them as little or as often as you like.
Eligibility
For university employees
The GO Pass program offers free transit on Caltrain to university employees who work 20 or more hours per week, receive regular Stanford University benefits, and are at Stanford primarily for employment. Employees must live off Stanford property (outside of the 94304, 94305, and 94309 ZIP codes) to be eligible for the GO Pass. If your home address in the Stanford Human Resources database lists your residence in one of these ZIP codes, but you actually live somewhere else, or if your listing does not include a ZIP code, you will need to present a utility bill with your name and address to receive one or both passes. Students, post-docs, hospital employees, SLAC employees, temporary employees, and employees working less than 20 hours per week are ineligible at this time.
For university and hospital employees
The Eco Pass program offers free transit to university and hospital employees who work 20 or more hours per week, receive regular university or hospital benefits, and are at Stanford primarily for employment. Employees must live off Stanford property (outside of the 94304, 94305, and 94309 ZIP codes) to be eligible for the Eco Pass. If your home address in the Stanford Human Resources database lists your residence in one of these ZIP codes, but you actually live somewhere else, or if your listing does not include a ZIP code, you will need to present a utility bill with your name and address to receive one or both passes. Students, post-docs, SLAC employees, temporary employees, and employees working less than 20 hours per week are ineligible at this time.
How to get them
To obtain your Caltrain GO Pass or VTA Eco Pass, simply bring your valid Stanford ID into our office at 340 Bonair Siding, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A customer service representative will affix your pass (a non-transferable sticker) to your Stanford ID.
Employees and students must stop by P&TS in person to receive their passes. We do not send passes by mail, nor can we allow a friend or colleague to pick up your pass for you.
How to park at Caltrain
Most Caltrain stations have parking available for transit riders, and all stations north of San Jose Diridon charge for the privilege.
Caltrain sells daily permits for $2.00 at Caltrain stations for occasional riders, but if you're a regular rider, you may consider purchasing a monthly Caltrain parking permit.
Monthly Caltrain parking permits are available at P&TS until the 11th of every month. You can purchase one over the counter for $20 at P&TS, or sign up to receive ongoing pre-tax monthly parking permits by mail (eligible employees paid through payroll only). Read the FAQs on pre-tax payroll deduction for more information.
Download the pre-tax monthly transit pass application to purchase your monthly Caltrain parking pass on an ongoing basis, and send it to our office at 340 Bonair Siding, MC: 7255, or fax it to us at (650) 724-8676. Applications must be received by the 11th to set up Caltrain parking permit distribution for the following month.
You can also purchase a monthly parking permit through Caltrain's Ticket by Mail program. Download the application on Caltrain's website at http://www.caltrain.org/.
If your pass is lost, stolen, or damaged
If your pass is lost, stolen, or damaged, please fill out and submit the Lost/Stolen/Damaged Eco Pass/GO Pass claim form. Even if you don't plan to use your GO Pass or Eco Pass, please report your ID and pass as stolen or lost to protect yourself in the event of fraudulent use of your identification and pass.
If your Eco Pass or GO Pass was stolen, we encourage you to file a police report and to report it to our office regardless of whether you plan to replace the stolen pass(es). Reporting it stolen helps clear your name in the event your pass is used fraudulently.
If your pass was stolen for the first time and you provide a copy of the police report to our office, the replacement cost is $5 for the Eco Pass, and free for the GO Pass. Please note that the report must state that your pass (and/or Stanford identification) was stolen, and we must have an actual copy of the report, not just the report number.
In some cases, a copy of the police report is not available for several days. For the first report of a stolen GO Pass only, we will provide you with a 10-ride Caltrain pass, paid for by P&TS, to allow you time to obtain the report.
If your Eco Pass or GO Pass is stolen a second time in the same year, the replacement fee for the Eco Pass (with or without a police report) is $50. The replacement fee for the GO Pass (with or without a police report) is $250. There are no replacements after the second incident.
If your pass was stolen, but you choose not to file a police report, the replacement cost is $25 for the Eco Pass, and $106 for the GO Pass.
To replace a pass you've lost, the cost is $25 for the Eco Pass, and $106 for the GO Pass.
If you lose your pass twice, the replacement fee is $50 for the Eco Pass, and $250 for the GO Pass. There are no replacements after the second incident, nor are there any refunds for passes that are found after being reported lost or stolen.
If your pass wears with use over time, or your ID is damaged, you may return your pass, still affixed to your Stanford ID, and receive another one at no charge.
If the pass itself has been damaged, a P&TS customer service representative will examine the pass for fraudulent activity, remove it (if it passes inspection), and issue you a new one.
If your Stanford ID has been damaged, P&TS will accept the damaged ID (with the pass still affixed), and affix a new pass free of charge to your new ID.
Under no circumstances will P&TS accept passes that are no longer affixed to your ID, nor will we accept passes that appear to have been subject to fraudulent activity.
Consequences of transferring the GO Pass and/or Eco Pass
Fraudulent use and transfer of the GO Pass and/or Eco Pass is a serious violation of the program. Stanford employees who are caught transferring their GO Pass and/or Eco Pass and employees who accept a GO Pass or Eco Pass that was not issued to them, will face confiscation and potential fines up to $250. In addition, the employees will immediately forfeit the privilege of receiving future passes and prizes through Parking & Transportation Services.
Need help getting started?
If you need assistance planning your trip, let us help you find the best route - from your front door to campus. For assistance, contact the Commute Club at 723-9362, email us at commuteclub@stanford.edu, or call 511 and follow the voice prompts. You can also go to http://www.511.org to visit their online public transit trip planner. |
