Ibrahim Gardner
Students at the University of Florida (UF) have a few options when it comes to paying for transportation. While UF contracts with the Regional Transit System (RTS) bus service to provide fare-free transportation for current students, some students are still required to pay a semi-annual transportation access fee, which varies by program and is used to support the on-campus shuttle bus system and the City of Gainesville RTS. Additionally, UF Online and PaCE students can opt into the Optional Fee Package to pay residential fees for access to services and resources on campus, including the ability to ride the RTS buses for free. However, those who do not opt for this package will need to purchase a student bus pass separately.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do UF students have to pay for a bus pass? | UF students do not have to pay for a bus pass. However, some students are required to pay a semi-annual transportation access fee. |
| Who does this apply to? | This applies to dental, medical, and veterinary students, as well as students in other specific programs. |
| How much is the transportation access fee? | The fee varies depending on the program. For example, dental, medical, and veterinary students pay $188.80 semi-annually, while Pharmacy students pay $169.92. |
| Are there any other fees that UF students may have to pay? | Yes, there is an optional fee package that includes the Activity and Service Fee, Health Fee, Transportation Fee, Athletic Fee, and GATORONE Service Fee. This package is optional for UF Online and PaCE students. |
| How much does the optional fee package cost? | The cost of the optional fee package is $46.21 per credit hour, which is the same for both on-campus and UF Online students. |
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What You'll Learn
- UF students can opt for the Optional Fee Package to access services and resources on campus
- The Regional Transit System (RTS) offers fare-free transportation to UF students
- UF students can use RTS fixed-route services without any fee
- UF contracts with RTS annually to provide transportation to students
- UF Online students do not have to pay student fees and can buy a semester pass
UF students can opt for the Optional Fee Package to access services and resources on campus
UF students do not have to pay for a bus pass as the Regional Transit System (RTS) offers an employee bus pass program to mitigate traffic and parking problems at the University of Florida. However, designated UF students, faculty, staff, and retirees enjoy pre-paid unlimited access to all RTS fixed-route services.
Since Fall 2016, UF Online and PaCE students have been able to purchase the UF Online Optional Fee Package. This optional package adds the student fees and will provide the same level of access to on-campus services and facilities as students taking in-person classes. The package is billed at $$46.21 per credit hour, which is the same cost per credit hour that on-campus students pay for these services. The fee package is offered on a semester basis and is optional for UF Online/PaCE students. It does not impact their academic success in their degree program.
The package includes access to recreational sports, intramurals, and club sports, as well as the use of recreational facilities such as the Southwest Recreation Center, Student Recreation & Fitness Center, Lake Wauburg, campus pools, courts, and recreation fields. It also includes access to the Student Health Care Center, the Counseling and Wellness Center, and Gator Nights, a late-night program offered on Fridays during the school year.
Students who choose the fee package can also sign up for season football tickets, access to campus recreation centers, and fare-free rides on the Gainesville Regional Transit System bus service.
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The Regional Transit System (RTS) offers fare-free transportation to UF students
The Regional Transit System (RTS) offers fare-free transportation to current University of Florida (UF) students, faculty, and staff. This is thanks to an annual contract between UF and RTS. To access the RTS bus service, students need to show their GATOR 1 ID mobile app or card, which is the official identification of the University of Florida.
While UF students do not need to pay a fare to ride RTS buses, some students are required to pay a semi-annual transportation access fee. For example, dental, medical, and veterinary students must pay $188.80, while pharmacy students must pay $169.92. These fees help to support the on-campus shuttle bus system and the RTS. UF Online and PaCE students, who are not based in Gainesville, do not have to pay these fees unless they opt into the Optional Fee Package to access on-campus services and resources.
The RTS also offers an Employee Bus Pass Program to mitigate traffic and parking problems at UF and encourage employees to use public transit. Employers can purchase unlimited-access bus passes for $7.50 each, allowing their employees to ride RTS buses for free.
RTS provides a convenient and cost-effective way for UF students, faculty, and staff to get around. With its comprehensive routes and schedules, students can easily get to where they need to go while saving money on transportation costs.
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UF students can use RTS fixed-route services without any fee
The RTS Employee Bus Pass Program was created to reduce traffic and parking issues at the University of Florida and to encourage the use of public transportation. The program provides unlimited access to the transit system for employees of contracted companies, reducing the cost per trip compared to regular bus fares. Employers with 100 or more employees can enter into a contract with RTS, purchasing unlimited access bus passes for their employees for a year at a rate of $7.50 each. This allows employees to show their ID cards to RTS bus drivers and ride RTS fixed-route services for free, excluding special services.
While UF students can ride RTS buses for free, they are required to pay a transportation access fee. This fee varies depending on the student's program and is paid on a per-credit-hour basis. For example, dental, medical, and veterinary students pay a semi-annual transportation access fee of $188.80, while Pharmacy students pay $169.92. UF Online and PaCE students have the option to purchase the UF Online Optional Fee Package, which includes the transportation fee and provides the same level of access to on-campus services and facilities as students taking in-person classes. This package is also billed on a per-credit-hour basis and the cost may vary each academic year.
To ride the RTS bus for free, UF students must show their GATOR 1 ID mobile app or card, which is the official identification of the University of Florida. This ID is required for all members of the UF community, including students, staff, faculty, retirees, and spouses/domestic partners. With this ID, students can board RTS buses and travel without any additional cost within the fixed routes.
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UF contracts with RTS annually to provide transportation to students
UF students do not have to pay for a bus pass, but they do have to pay a transportation access fee. The University of Florida (UF) contracts annually with the Regional Transit System (RTS) bus service to provide fare-free transportation for students, faculty, and staff. The RTS is owned and operated by the City of Gainesville and offers unlimited access to all RTS fixed-route services.
The RTS Employee Bus Pass Program was created to reduce traffic and parking issues at UF and downtown Gainesville and to encourage the use of public transportation. The program provides unlimited access to the transit system for employees of contracted participants, with the cost per trip being lower than a regular bus fare. Employers with 100 or more employees can enter into a contract with RTS, purchasing unlimited access bus passes for their employees for a year at a rate of $7.50 each. Employees only need to show their ID card to the bus driver to use RTS services for free, except for special services.
UF students, faculty, staff, and retirees can use the RTS bus service at no cost by showing their GATOR 1 ID mobile app or card. However, this does not include special services such as Gator Aider. Additionally, designated Santa Fe students, faculty, staff, and retirees also enjoy prepaid unlimited access to all RTS fixed-route services.
While UF students do not pay for a bus pass, they are required to pay a transportation access fee. This fee varies depending on the student's program and is either charged on a semi-annual basis or per credit hour. For example, dental, medical, and veterinary students pay a semi-annual transportation access fee of $188.80, while pharmacy students pay $169.92. On the other hand, UF Online and PaCE students can opt into the Optional Fee Package to pay residential fees for access to on-campus services and resources, including transportation.
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UF Online students do not have to pay student fees and can buy a semester pass
UF Online students are not required to pay the majority of student fees, including the Activity and Service Fee, Health Fee, Transportation Fee, Athletic Fee, and GATORONE Service Fee. These fees fund essential services for residential students, but as most fully online students are not in Gainesville, they do not need to pay for the services associated with the physical campus. UF Online students have the option to purchase the UF Online Optional Fee Package, which grants them the same level of access to on-campus services and facilities as students taking in-person classes. This package is billed on a per-credit-hour basis and is entirely optional.
The Regional Transit System (RTS) bus service is owned and operated by the City of Gainesville and offers fare-free transportation for current students, faculty, and staff through its contract with UF. The RTS Employee Bus Pass Program was created to reduce traffic and parking issues at the University of Florida and to encourage the use of public transportation. The program offers unlimited access to the transit system for employees of contracted participants, and any employee can show their ID card to an RTS bus driver to access RTS fixed-route services for free.
While UF Online students do not have to pay mandatory student fees, they can opt into the Optional Fee Package to access on-campus services and resources. This package is available to both UF Online and PaCE students and is billed at the same cost per credit hour as on-campus students. UF Online students can use the tuition and fees calculator to estimate their costs, which may vary each academic year.
The RTS bus service is a convenient option for UF students, staff, and faculty, providing quick transportation and helping them avoid parking hassles. With the RTS contract, students can use the bus service without any additional fees, making it a cost-effective choice. The RTS buses operate on a weekly schedule, offering a consistent and reliable mode of transportation for the UF community.
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Frequently asked questions
UF students do not need to pay for a bus pass. The University of Florida contracts annually with the Regional Transit System (RTS) to provide fare-free transportation for current students, faculty, and staff.
No, UF Online and PaCE students are not required to pay the transportation fee as part of their student fees. However, they can opt into the Optional Fee Package to gain access to services and resources on campus, including the bus service.
The Optional Fee Package is billed on a per-credit-hour basis and is the same cost per credit hour that on-campus students are required to pay for these services. The cost may vary each academic year.
Students with a valid Gator 1 ID card are not required to show their ID to board the bus. However, the Gator 1 ID card is required on City Routes.
