DC Region’s Virginia Tech Students To Get Discounted Metro Pass

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Students at the upcoming Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria will get discounted access to Metro starting this fall.

The U-Pass program provides students with unlimited trips on Metrorail and Metrobus at a significant discount during the school year. Virginia Tech joins other participating colleges and universities in the region joining the program. Full-time students at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, Northern Virginia Center, Virginia Tech Research Center, and Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center will receive the pass for the 2023-2024 fall and spring semesters.

“We are thrilled to introduce the U-Pass program in partnership with Metro, as it marks a significant milestone in our efforts to enhance transportation accessibility and sustainability for our students,” said Lynsay Belshe, Virginia Tech’s vice president of auxiliary and business services. “By providing access to Metro buses and trains, U-Pass not only offers a cost-effective transportation option, but also encourages our students to make eco-conscious choices.”

The U-Pass for Virginia Tech comes as its first Innovation Campus academic building is expected to open in 2024. There is already a Metrorail option nearby with the opening of the Potomac Yard Metro station in May.

“Metro’s U-Pass program continues to create a new generation of transit enthusiasts who share our commitment to sustainable transportation that connects the region,” said Sarah Meyer, Metro’s chief customer experience and engagement officer. “We applaud Virginia Tech’s strategic vision to ensure students have convenient, affordable transit options by placing their new Innovation Campus next to the brand new Potomac Yard Station and Metroway.”

According to Metro, the cost of a U-Pass is included with tuition and equates to $1 per day. Normal Metro fare prices start at $2 and depend on entry and exit points and the timing of travel.

While students receive a physical U-Pass card, they can also add it to their Apple Wallet on iPhone or Apple Watch when riding Metrorail and Metrobus.

Metro has over 30 participants in the U-Pass program, including major campuses like American University and George Washington University. Since 2016, the program has provided millions of trips to students.