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Cornell University

Bus Services - Privileges - Passes

Public Transit TCAT Bus Access

Public transit is the ultimate way to make the most of your time. It’s convenient, efficient, and economical.

TCAT serves Tompkins County, including Cornell and the City of Ithaca. You can reach them at 607-277-RIDE (Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.) or visit their website for route, fare, schedule, and park-and-ride lot locations. Annual OmniRide bus passes are available for purchase on the Transportation Website for the low price of $200/year.  The purchase amount is pro rated monthly and the current rate will display at time of purchase.  Passes are valid for the current school year and expire August 31st of the following year.


Getting Started

Students and employees can use their CU photo ID to ride TCAT buses. Just swipe your card at the fare box when you board a TCAT bus.

Employee Unlimited Ride Privileges

Employees(Temporary, affiliates, & retirees) can use their valid CU photo ID when boarding TCAT buses to ride anywhere and anytime on a TCAT route for free! This unlimited ride privilege gives employees more freedom to plan their commute and help reduce the number of vehicles on campus.
Spouses or partners of CU employees with a valid CU ID can also enjoy unlimited rides on TCAT, nights & weekends on routes 90, 92, & 93.

Student CU ID Card Privileges

As a New Cornell Student, you’ll automatically get OmniRide privileges for unlimited TCAT rides. This is a great perk for first-year students in degree programs. But remember, these privileges expire annually on August 31st for Fall entrants and December 31st for Spring entrants.
After your first year, you can buy a discounted OmniRide bus pass at MyParking.Cornell.Edu. These passes also expire annually on August 31st.
Continuing education students and their spouses or partners with a CU ID card can enjoy unlimited rides on TCAT at night on routes 90, 92, and 93. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the local public service and encourage you to leave your car at home. 

Registered students who’ve been in school for a year or more and are enrolled in a degree program! Here’s the deal: after 6 pm on weekdays, you can hop on all TCAT buses for free, including all day on Saturdays and Sundays. Plus, you can get an OmniRide pass at a discounted rate by visiting MyParking.Cornell.Edu. Remember, you must stay registered to keep your riding privileges.
Oh, and if you’re a student’s spouse or partner with a CU ID, you can buy the OmniRide student bus pass at 116 Maple Avenue. This pass gives you unlimited rides on TCAT night routes 90 and 92. Pretty cool, huh?

Refunds can be issued up until March 31st, minus a $40 fee. As a new Cornell student, please be reminded that your ride privileges are valid from the date of your registration for the Fall semester until August 31st of the following year. For Spring entrants, your ride privileges commence on January 1st and expire on December 31st of the same year. Additionally, it is important to note that there are no extensions of no-fee privileges for any reason. Therefore, it is imperative that you utilize your ride privileges judiciously.

Regional Public Transit

Chemung County Transit serves Elmira, Horseheads, and Ithaca.
Cortland Public Transit serves the Cortland area, with service to Cornell, TC3, and Dryden.


Click here for more information on how to join Cornell’s Employee commuter alternative program.

What’s Required

  • To use the OmniRide program, you need to have a CU ID card. This includes night and weekend rides, and it’s non-transferable.
  • Your CU ID card needs to be swiped at the fare-box.
  • If your CU ID card isn’t accepted, you may need to pay the $1.50 fare with cash.
  • If your CU ID card is bent or damaged, it will not work properly and a replacement card will be required to utilize the OmniRide program.

What to Do If…

  • Your CU ID card isn’t working for any reason, contact the Transportation Office by phone at 607-255-4600 or send an email to Transportation@Cornell.Edu .
  • Your CU ID is lost, stolen or damaged, report it to the University Registrar by calling 607-255-4232 to receive a replacement card. Be advised that there may be an associated fee.

Now you’re all set!

**Important Note**

 Your CU ID card is the property of the university. The free riding program is a courtesy provided by Cornell and is non-transferable. If you just purchased your OmniRide pass, it may take up to 24 hours for activation to occur.