#AskDCTA: What are DCTA’s Fare Discount Pass Programs and How Can I Use Them?

August 20, 2019

Want to know how to become a DCTA bus operator? Ever wondered if you can bring your pet onboard? Now you can #AskDCTA! In our monthly blog content series, our customer service team answers frequently-asked rider questions to better engage with our riders and improve their experience when riding DCTA.

For the month of August, Samantha Balderas – Quality Control Coordinator— explains what our fare discount pass programs are and how to apply!

1. What types of fare discount pass programs does DCTA offer?

We offer a variety of discount programs to meet the needs of the community at large including the Employee Pass Program, Group Discount Program, Nonprofit Discount Program and the University Pass Program. We offer two types of passes for each program — local and regional.

Local Pass

Local System fares are valid on the A-train, Connect Buses, Highland Village Connect Shuttle, Denton Airport and Lewisville Lakeway Zone, University of North Texas (UNT) and North Central Texas College (NCTC) Campus Shuttles and North Texas Xpress (Denton to North Park & Ride and Reverse only). These fares are not valid for paratransit trips.

Regional Pass

Regional System fares are valid on the A-train, Connect Buses, Highland Village Connect Shuttle, Denton Airport and Lewisville Lakeway Zone, UNT and NCTC Campus Shuttles. It also includes access to fixed-route bus and rail services operated by DCTA, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Trinity Railway Express (TRE) and Trinity Metro. These fares are not valid for paratransit trips.

2. What is DCTA’s University Pass Program and who can purchase one?

We’ve partnered with Denton County’s higher education institutions to provide an affordable and convenient commute alternative for students, faculty and staff affiliated with local colleges and universities. The University Pass Program is valid for students, faculty and staff of UNT, NCTC and Texas Woman’s University (TWU).

We have several local and regional pass options for students, faculty and staff:

• Annual Pass
• Fall Semester
• Spring Semester
• Summer

Proof of enrollment or employment is required from one of the three universities. The following verification forms are accepted:

• UNT students should provide an Enrollment Verification Paper from the registrar’s office
• TWU students should provide a copy of their e-bill
• NCTC students can complete a form available from the registrar’s office
• Employee IDs will serve as employment verification for all three educational institutions

You can submit verification forms and a clear, front-facing photo of yourself to CSR@ntmc.com. Forms can also be turned in to the Downtown Denton Transit Center (DDTC) ticket window on Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We recently updated the University Pass Program fare structure to align with the agency’s existing reduced fare discount. There will no longer be a difference in fare pricing for university students vs. faculty and staff!

3. What is DCTA’s Employee Pass Program?

The DCTA Employee Pass Program offers Denton County-based businesses a discount on annual passes for their employees. Our pass program gives businesses the opportunity to offer low-cost transportation to employees while reducing your company’s carbon footprint!

We offer a free consultation to determine the best plan for your business and employees. To schedule a consultation, contact Kelly Briggs at kbriggs@dcta.net. 

Check out what people have to say about our EmployeePass Program!

4. What is DCTA’s Group Discount Program and how can I purchase?

Are you planning a school field trip or traveling with a large group? The Group Discount Program offers substantial savings to groups that purchase a minimum of 25 tickets.  We offer a variety of discount options to accommodate your needs:

 Standard Group Discount

• 20% discount
• Purchase of 25+ tickets
• Date specific

Flexible Group Discount

• 15% discount
• Purchase of 25+ tickets

Qualified Reduced Group Discount

• 10% discount on already reduced fares (eligibility required)
• Purchase of 25+ tickets
• Date specific

Contact Kelly Briggs at kbriggs@dcta.net to purchase discounted group passes.

5. What is DCTA’s Nonprofit Discount Program?

The Nonprofit Discount Program offers nonprofit organizations a discounted rate on local and regional passes. This program offers flexibility for charitable organizations to serve the needs of the community.

Nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations are eligible to receive a 50% discount on all passes. This discount does not apply to already discounted passes or on-demand services. Organizations wishing to purchase discounted passes must provide a hard copy of their valid Employee Identification Number for our file.

To purchase discounted passes under the Non-Profit Discount Program, please visit the ticket counter at the DDTC or contact Kelly Briggs at 972.316.6121 or kbriggs@dcta.net.

We hope Samantha helped answer all your questions about our Discount Pass Programs! Have another question you want our customer service team to answer? Here’s how you can submit them:

• Send your feedback via our GORequest online customer service tool and choose the menu option “#AskDCTA Series”
• Post your question on our Twitter or Facebook page (be sure to use #AskDCTA)
• Drop a note in the comments section on our Hop on Board blog

While we can’t guarantee that every question submitted will be answered, we will consider all inquiries and will feature questions that will greatly benefit most of our riders!

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