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ABOUT YOUR PERALTA COLLEGES EASYPASS PROGRAM
AC Transit’s EasyPass program provides eligible Peralta students with an AC Transit bus pass that is valid at any time on all AC Transit lines, both local and transbay. For only $31 per semester ($62 per academic year), the program offers you substantially reduced bus fare because all eligible students share in the program’s cost. Students can save over 94 percent from the regular rate for a 31-day pass for local transit ($80) and 96 percent savings from the cost of a 31-day transbay pass ($132.50). The program uses the TransLink® regional fare card with photo ID as the fare instrument.
Why is EasyPass a good thing?
Your Peralta EasyPass is a great alternative to driving alone. Using your EasyPass reduces parking demands and alleviates traffic congestion. The EasyPass is also a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and improve our environment.
Who is eligible for a Peralta EasyPass?
The EasyPass is valid for all students enrolled for nine or more units in the fall or spring semesters. Currently, over 9,000 Peralta College students are eligible for the program this fall semester. All students enrolled in the spring semester will have a valid EasyPass throughout the summer. Students enrolled only in a summer session will not be eligible to receive an EasyPass.
When is the 2009-2010 EasyPass valid?
The fall 2009 EasyPass starts one week before the first day of the fall semester, August 13, and is good through January 28, 2010, one week after the start of spring semester. The spring semester pass starts January 14, one week prior to the first day of instruction, and will end August 27, one week after the first day of fall 2010 instruction. The spring semester EasyPass is valid throughout the summer.
If I already have an EasyPass issued from the past, will I get a new EasyPass card with my photo on it for fall 2009?
No. EasyPass cards are not replaced each semester. Once you have been issued a card, you will not need another card.Your EasyPass will be automatically loaded each semester that you qualify. You keep the card long-term just as you might keep other important cards - like your driver’s license or your passport.
What do I have to do to get my new EasyPass?
• Enroll and maintain nine or more units
• Have a Peralta Colleges student ID with photo on file
• Pay your EasyPass fee
• Sign the Pass Acceptance Form (PAF)
If you take nine or more units, you automatically qualify for an EasyPass and must pay your EasyPass fee. All Peralta students must have a photo on file from their student ID in order to get an EasyPass.
If you do not have a student ID, you must have your photo taken first in order to get a student ID and an EasyPass. In addition, you must sign the EasyPass Pass Acceptance Form (PAF). In summary, if you have registered for classes, paid your EasyPass fee, have a Peralta student ID, and signed the PAF, you will be ready to pick up your EasyPass and start using it right away. If you have not yet signed a PAF, then you will be required to sign a PAF when you pick up your EasyPass. Peralta will notify you at your Peralta student email address when to pick up your EasyPass. Check your Peralta student email address for status alerts about your EasyPass.
What is the Pass Acceptance Form (PAF)?
The PAF is a required form that releases your photo for EasyPass production and ensures that you understand the guidelines for proper use of the EasyPass. The form also subscribes you to AC Transit e-News— an e-mail-based notification service that lets you know when important changes occur on the bus lines you ride. Occasionally, Peralta Colleges may send out an e-mail survey via AC Transit e-News to assess the EasyPass program.
What happens if I do not have a Peralta student photo ID?
You will not have an EasyPass ready for pick up at the start of the fall, 2009 semester. There will be a delay in getting your EasyPass if Peralta Colleges does not have a photo on file for you. All EasyPass cards must have a photo ID. Once you have a photo taken, Peralta will order your EasyPass from AC Transit. When your card arrives at your Bursar’s Office Peralta will notify you by email to pick up your EasyPass.
Where do I pick up my EasyPass?
You will pick up your EasyPass at the Bursar’s Office of the campus where you got your student ID. Here are the
If you registered after August 4, 2009, you must contact the Peralta bursar’s office of the campus where you got your student ID. The bursar will check to see if you qualify, accept your EasyPass fee, and have you sign the PAF if you have not already done so. The bursar will give you your EasyPass. If you do not have a student ID, then you will be directed to get one and Peralta will notify you at your student email when your EasyPass is ready to be picked up.
Remember, if you already have an EasyPass card, all you have to do is pay your EasyPass fee and your existing card will be activated. You will not need a new card. Your EasyPass will be loaded onto your existing card remotely. Check your Peralta student ID for status alerts about your EasyPass.
What happens if I drop below nine units?
You must take immediate action to bring your units back up to nine or more. You are at risk for having your EasyPass deactivated by Peralta Colleges. If you do not quickly address your drop in units, and you are deactivated, it may take as long as two weeks to bring your EasyPass back to active status once you bring your units back up to nine or more. There will be no refund of your EasyPass fee.
What happens if I do not pay my EasyPass fee, or pay my fee late?
If you neglect to pay your EasyPass fee, you will still be charged for the fee and must pay your fee before any future college registration at Peralta is allowed. To get the most value from your EasyPass, pay your fee when registering at the semester start, so you can take advantage of the EasyPass as soon as possible. All qualified students must pay their fees. There are no refunds for the EasyPass.
Why do I have to pay for an EasyPass if I do not plan to use it?
Students voted in the spring 2009 referendum to institute an AC Transit EasyPass program benefiting all Peralta College students carrying nine or more units. With an 88 percent approval, the referendum authorized a small student fee for EasyPass enabling Peralta students to ride any AC Transit bus at anytime. Because all students share in the cost to provide this benefit, the EasyPass is provided at only 4 percent of the regular local fare. The pricing on this discounted EasyPass relies on all eligible Peralta students paying the fee. Peralta students have shown that they are committed to supporting a more sustainable Peralta.
I don’t need my EasyPass. Can I let my relative or friend use it?
The EasyPass is valid only for the student to whom it is assigned. Your EasyPass is not transferable or refundable and will be revoked (deactivated) if used by anyone else. There are no refunds for your EasyPass fees. Fraudulent use of your EasyPass undermines AC Transit’s financial ability to offer the pass to Peralta College students and others who qualify for the discounted program. A fine of up to $228 and/or community service is the penalty for misuse of your pass with the intent to evade the payment of fares according to California state law (CPC 640). Peralta Colleges may impose additional penalties on you.
Can I still use my TransLink card if I no longer attend Peralta Colleges?
Yes, the card is yours to keep but your EasyPass will be deactivated at the end of the current semester.You can keep the card as long as you wish for a convenient way to pay for all transit services that use TransLink. You will have to add e-cash to the card for it to be active.
When I get my EasyPass, what is the first thing I should do?
Write down your TransLink card number on the Peralta Colleges EasyPass User Guide that comes with your card. You will need to refer to this number if your card becomes defective, damaged, lost, or stolen. You may also want to write down your name in the exact way it is printed on the card so that if you need to make a call to the TransLink Customer Service Center, your card information can be easily verified. Read and keep the User Guide that comes with your pass.
How do I use my EasyPass?
Your EasyPass comes on a TransLink card personalized with your name and photo. You will “tag” the TransLink card on the card reader at the front of the bus each time you board. When you hear a single beep, your fare has been accepted. If you hear three beeps, you may have tagged your card incorrectly. Try again and be careful not to swipe your card. If you still hear three beeps, confirm with the driver that the reader is in good working order. If so, your card may be defective or deactivated. Please call TransLink customer service to address your card issue. Always have back up fare in case your card does not work. And remember, the EasyPass is not transferable to anyone else.
Is the EasyPass valid on the Dumbarton Express service?
No. The EasyPass is valid only on AC Transit local and transbay bus lines. The Dumbarton Express is actually operated by a consortium of transit agencies that contracts with AC Transit. Peralta students can use their EasyPass to take AC Transit’s transbay Line U across the Dumbarton Bridge without paying extra fare.
Does my TransLink card work on BART and other Bay Area transit?
Yes. TransLink is now accepted on BART, Golden Gate Transit, San Francisco Muni, and the Dumbarton Express. To ride these other systems you will need to add cash (called “e-cash”) to your card. You can add e-cash by phone, at a self-serve Add Value Machine,
Can I punch a hole in the corner of the card for carrying on a chain?
No. The antenna that activates the TransLink reader runs throughout the card. Please protect your card from damage.
If there is a problem with my card, what is my first responsibility?
Call TransLink Customer Service Center at
(877) 878-8883 to verify who you are. This is the very first step you must always take. TransLink will check your card’s activity and fix your card remotely if possible. Peralta Colleges and AC Transit cannot do this. TransLink will give you instructions for what to do next.
If my card is lost or stolen, or just doesn’t work, what should I do?
Call the TransLink Customer Service Center toll-free at (877) 878-8883, and have your card number in hand. This is the first step you should always take. TransLink will give you instructions for what to do next.
If your card has been lost or stolen, TransLink will deactivate your card to prevent misuse and protect any e-cash value on the card. You can ask for a replacement card and restore your EasyPass and e-cash for a balance restoration fee of $5, payable by credit card or money order directly to TransLink.
If your card just doesn’t work, TransLink will check your card remotely and fix it if possible. If this can’t be done, you will be asked to mail your card to TransLink. If it’s determined that the card has been damaged, you can ask for a replacement and restore your EasyPass and any e-cash for a balance restoration fee of $5, payable by credit card or money order directly to TransLink. If the card is defective, you’ll get a new card with your EasyPass and any e-cash balance restored without charge.
TransLink will notify AC Transit to create your replacement card, which will be mailed to Peralta in three to five business days. To speed delivery, you can request to have the card mailed directly to you. Simply give TransLink your mailing address. Until you have your new card, you will need to pay the regular cash fare on the bus.
How do I get answers to questions about my EasyPass?
Call TransLink at (877) 878-8883 for problems with your EasyPass. Always call TransLink first to report a lost, stolen, damaged, or defective EasyPass. Please refer to your Peralta Colleges EasyPass User Guide that came with your card. Remember to write down your EasyPass number on your User Guide so you can reference it easily if you need to call TransLink Customer Service.
For all other questions about your EasyPass contact Peralta Colleges:
- Contact the Peralta EasyPass Information Desk at 510-466-7363, or easypass@peralta.edu.
- Check out the Peralta EasyPass web page for additional details at www.peralta.edu/easypass
- If you did not receive your EasyPass, contact Peralta Colleges.
ABOUT AC TRANSIT
How do I use EasyPass to get around on AC Transit?
- Be on the look out for the AC Transit table on each campus during the first weeks of the fall 2009 semester.
- Go online to www.actransit.org.
- Find AC Transit maps and schedules at:
» Online at www.actransit.org
» Your College Library
» The District International Student Office
» Talk to members of the Associated Students at
your College
- Find the NextBus™ real-time bus arrival information How do I contact AC Transit to make
for a line you ride by visiting www.nextbus.com.
- Use your Peralta EasyPass ”How to Ride Guide” and explore the Bay Area.
- Get personalized help with trip planning or order maps and schedules by calling 511 (and saying, “AC Transit”) to reach the AC Transit Telephone Information Center. You can also go to AC Transit’s home page and click on “Trip Planner.”
To learn more about AC Transit and your EasyPass, visit these Web pages:
- AC Transit Home Page:
www.actransit.org
- AC Transit EasyPass Page:
www.actransit.org/easypass
- Maps and Schedules:
www.actransit.org/maps
- AC Transit Customer Services:
www.actransit.org/customer
- TransLink Information:
www.actransit.org/translink
- AC Transit for the Environment:
www.actransit.org/environment
How do I report a non-functioning card reader?
If you are inside the bus, look above the front windshield for the bus number and write it down along with the date. If you are already outside the bus, find the bus number above the windshield or the front door. Call 511 (and say, “AC Transit”) to reach the AC Transit Telephone Information Center or go online to www.actransit.org/customer to make a report.
How do I report a damaged bus stop sign or pole schedule?
Send an email to signs@actransit.org to report missing schedules or damaged bus stop/pole signage.
Marketing and Community Relations • August, 2009
How do I contact AC Transit to make a complaint, report an incident, or give a driver a commendation?
Call 511 (and say, “AC Transit”) to reach AC Transit’s Telephone Information Center or go online to www.actransit.org/customer to make a report.
How do I report a non-functioning Next Bus monitor?
Call 511 (and say, “AC Transit”) to reach the AC Transit Telephone Information Center and let them know which monitor is not functioning properly.
Remember, for questions about your Peralta EasyPass:
- Refer to your Peralta Colleges EasyPass User Guide.
- Check out Peralta’s EasyPass web page online at www.peralta.edu/easypass.
- Contact the Peralta EasyPass Information Desk at easypass@peralta.edu, or call 510-466-7363.
Be sure to check your Peralta student email for EasyPass notifications.