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UTA Passes for Students

UTA Passes for Students

Salt Lake City School District has joined with the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA), and the Salt Lake Education Foundation to provide free UTA transit passes to district employees, students, and one parent or guardian from each student household.  Every dollar saved makes a great deal of difference for our families. Additionally, by encouraging the use of mass transit and eliminating individual car rides, this program will help improve air quality in our city. 

For the 2026-27 school year:

UTA is upgrading its fare payment system, which requires new transit cards for most students and parents/guardians.

High school and middle school students using a OneCard: 

  • No action needed. Your current OneCard will continue to work.

Elementary students: 

  • A new UTA card is required.
  • New cards will be delivered to the schools by the end of August.
  • Students can pick up their new cards at their school’s main office.
  • Current UTA cards will continue to work until September 30, 2026.

Parent/Guardian Passes

  • New guardian passes will be distributed to schools by the second week of September.
  • The district’s Information Technology Department will notify parents/guardians when their new pass is ready for pickup at the school.

For more information and to find bus routes, visit the UTA website.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • You can ride any local bus, TRAX, and even UTA On Demand with your transit pass! All UTA services are accessible for those who have mobility devices or require additional assistance.

    Bus: There are many UTA buses in Salt Lake City and they are all numbered with a route. UTA buses travel on the same route regularly and pick up and drop off at designated bus stops throughout the city.

    TRAX: TRAX trains operate all over Salt Lake County and there are three main lines – Red, Blue, and Green – and the S-Line streetcar. You can connect to different destinations, including buses or UTA On Demand by taking TRAX.

    UTA On Demand: UTA On Demand is a new service and will pick up passengers and drop them off close to local destinations or connections to bus stops or train stations on the west side of Salt Lake City. UTA On Demand uses a mobile app for riders to book a ride and operates van-style vehicles. You may share your vehicle with other passengers. Be sure to download the app!

    (Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to ride UTA On Demand. Car seats will not be provided by UTA; riders traveling with children who require them must bring their own. Riders are responsible for securing any such car seat and for ensuring that it fits all legal requirements).

    FrontRunner, Ski Bus, and Paratransit are not included with the SLCSD transit pass. To ride Frontrunner, purchase an upgraded ticket when you board.

  • Minors between the ages of 13 and 18 can have their own member accounts and ride with UTA On Demand unaccompanied, but they must have consent from their parent or guardian. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to ride UTA On Demand. Car seats will not be provided by UTA; riders traveling with children who require a car seat must bring their own. Riders are responsible for securing any such car seat and for ensuring that it fits all legal requirements.

  • Only students in a Salt Lake City School District-sponsored charter school qualify for the UTA pass program.

  • Children under the age of six can ride UTA trains and buses for free without a pass.

  • Only students who attend a Salt Lake City School District school are eligible to receive the SLCSD transit pass. However, others can always purchase a Reduced Fare FAREPAY card (50% off the FAREPAY fare for youth ages 6-18). To learn more, visit: Reduced Fare.