Today@Dal

Dalhousie employees will soon have a new transportation option for getting
to campus in Halifax. Dal is partnering with Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) SmartTrip to launch EPass/LinkPass, a reduced-cost Metro Transit bus pass program available to all permanent full-time and part-time employees, as well as associate employees.

This is a pilot program, and during this phase, Dalhousie has 600 available passes. Approximately 100 of these passes will be reserved for new riders (those with a current yearly Dal parking pass that they will turn in or have a term pass now and will not renew). The remaining spaces will be distributed to randomly drawn employees who submit their names for consideration.

The employee bus pass program begins in January 2013, but the deadline to submit your name is Wednesday, November 14th.

Eligible employees need to send an email with the subject line "EPass Sign-up" to rethink@dal.ca, including your name, email address, preferred type of pass (EPass or LinkPass), and if you are a new rider (will be confirmed via Payroll). All recipients will be notified by email by Friday, November 16.

Bus passes will be payable through payroll deductions. Dalhousie and HRM are supplementing part of the cost of each bus pass for savings to employees of a 25% discount. Certified new riders will also receive reduction of $80 towards their new bus pass a (35% savings) and be entered to win 1 of 4 bicycles when they turn in their Dal parking pass.

The EPass/LinkPass program is a pilot project developed by HRM's SmartTrip initiative, which aims to reduce the number of vehicles being driven to the workplace. As one of the largest employers on the Halifax peninsula, Dalhousie is providing a cost-saving transportation method to employees and helping reduce carbon emissions by having fewer cars on the road.

If you have any questions about the EPass/LinkPass program, please send them to rethink@dal.ca or visit the SmartTrip website, which includes a series of FAQs.