University of Minnesota

Universal Transit Pass

Gophers! Tap and ride to win prizes this fall!

Your U Card has the Universal Transit Pass built in, and in September, you can earn a chance to win great prizes; like gift cards or the grand prize of a new e-bike!

Just make sure to register first and then each time you tap and ride, you increase your chances of winning the weekly prize drawing!

Register here and get riding!

(Registration opens Tuesday, Sept. 8)

Contest details:

Contest is open from Tuesday, Sept. 8 through Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026

One drawing each Wednesday during the promotional period (Sept. 16, 23, 30, & Oct. 7)

Great prizes you could win:

Prize 1: Caribou gift card, retail value: $100

Prize 2: U of Minnesota Bookstore gift card, retail value: $150

Prize 3: Cub Foods gift card, retail value: $200

Prize 4: e-bike: $400

Contest/sweepstakes rules

Faculty/staff: All Twin Cities benefits-eligible faculty and staff will receive unlimited access to all transit systems in the Twin Cities metro area.

Employees with 75-100% appointments will receive the Employee Transit Pass (ETP) at no additional cost. Employees with 50-74% appointments who are eligible for benefits but no contributions from the University may opt-in at their cost via a pretax payroll deduction.

The ETP program provides low-cost, equitable, and accessible transportation for eligible employees and helps the University meet its sustainability goals in support of the Climate Action Plan. 

For more information, please visit Parking and Transportation Services’ ETP website and FAQ.

Other ways to pay

• Rechargeable value loaded on a Go-To Card for quick and easy fare payment
• Metro Transit app to buy transit tickets on the go
• Cash or credit card at any rail ticket machine
• Cash (exact change only) on the bus

Routes serving the University of Minnesota

Routes serving the Minneapolis campus

Routes from the north

• Route 7 from north Mpls. via Plymouth Ave. and N. 1st St.

• Route 22 from Brooklyn Center Lyndale Ave

• Route 252 from Blaine

• Route 789 from Maple Grove

Routes from the south

• Route 2 from south Mpls. via Franklin Ave.

• Route 7 from south Mpls. via Minnehaha

• Route 22 from south Mpls. via 28th Ave. Cedar Ave.

• Route 113 from south Mpls. via Lyndale and Grand Ave.

• Route 114 from south Mpls. via Hennepin Ave.

• Route 465 from Burnsville

• Route 475 from Apple Valley and Eagan

• Route 490 from Prior Lake and Shakopee

Routes from the east

• METRO Green Line via University Ave.

• Route 3 via Maryland Ave. and Como Ave.

Routes from the west

• METRO Green Line via 5th St. and Washington Ave.

• Route 2 via 8th St. SE and 10th Ave. SE

• Route 3 from N. Washington Ave. downtown Mpls.

• Route 6 from Edina via France, Xerxes, and Hennepin

• Route 695 from Chaska

• Route 698 from Chanhassen

• Route 774 from Plymouth

• Route 795 from Plymouth

Routes serving the St. Paul campus

Routes from the north

• Route 87 from Roseville

Routes from the east

• Route 3 from downtown St. Paul via Maryland Ave. Energy Park Dr. and Como Ave.

• Route 61 from downtown St. Paul via Arcade Ave. and Larpenteur Ave.

Routes from the west

• Route 3 from downtown Minneapolis

• Route 61 from downtown Minneapolis via Hennepin Ave. and Larpenteur Ave.