Starting in Winter Quarter ‘14, the De Anza College Eco Pass will be integrated with the Clipper Card, which can be used on public transit throughout the Bay Area.

The Clipper Card is a reloadable card used for electronic fare payment.

No additional value is needed on the Clipper Card to ride the VTA bus system and light rail within Santa Clara County. Students would need to prepay on the card to use it with other transit agencies, such as BART, CalTrain, and Muni.

“The Eco Pass is valid on VTA buses and light rail, not on BART or any other Bay Area transportation systems,” said Marisa Spatafore, director of marketing and communications.

Most enrolled De Anza students pay the mandatory quarterly fee for the Eco Pass. As long as a student is enrolled and registration fees are paid, or the student is on an installment payment plan, the Clipper Card will be automatically updated each quarter.

At its meeting on Monday, Nov. 4, the Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees approved Eco Pass fee exemptions for HOPE students, Middle College students, military veterans receiving college fee waivers, apprenticeship students, students who take all classes online and live outside Santa Clara County, concurrent enrollment students at Foothill College and students enrolled at both campuses, who need to pay the fee at only one campus.

“I think it’s a good idea to have an Eco Pass available via Clipper Card. It’s just more convenient, and the student wouldn’t have to keep track of both if it’s two-inone,” said Leslie Le, business and marketing major.

Students who wish to obtain a Clipper Card with the Eco Pass should visit the Office of College Life in the Hinson Campus Center.

The Eco Pass website has been updated to provide more information about the changes. You can access the website at www.deanza.edu/ecopass.