Transportation and Parking About

Penn Transit Services introduced a new look for its fleet of bus and shuttle vehicles.  The contemporary red and blue design crosses over the entire fleet, unifying the brand shown on the different types of vehicles that transport passengers to, from, and around campus. This initiative brought together seven different designs currently featured on Penn Buses and Shuttles.

Additionally, four buses were added to the fleet.  Each 40-passenger low floor vehicle is ADA compliant, with an accessible ramp and two wheelchair stations.  The vehicles keep pace with ridership demand along with the increasingly popular charter bus service Penn Transit offers to the University.

Penn Parking conducts an annual maintenance program of its garages and lots, with most improvements scheduled for summertime. Improvements are performed for reasons such as patrons' safety, prolonging the longevity of the facilities, improving the aesthestics, and generally enhancing the overall customer experience. Many of these improvements include asphalt repairs, seal coating to weatherproof the asphalt, painting and striping, security upgrades to cameras that increase coverage area and improve overall security, and signage repairs.

This program is part of the department's ongoing commitment to ensure that the lifespan of Penn's garages and lots are maintained in a manner which benefits of all its patrons.

Penn’s Sustainable Transportation Initiative was launched in 2010 in support of the University’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan's goal of lowering the University’s carbon footprint. The focus of the Initiative is developing and expanding sustainable commuting options. 

The University offers a wide array of sustainable commuter options.  They are designed to accommodate a variety of circumstances and include discounted, pre-tax purchases of passes that can be used for the robust network of transit systems serving Penn’s campus. Currently, up to $315 of monthly commuter fare costs may be paid for through pre-tax payroll deductions. 

Penn’s Occasional Parking Program - The Occasional Parking Program is for faculty and staff who commute to work by mass transit, but find that they need to park from time to time.  The program allows an individual to purchase up to 10 passes for Penn's Walnut 40 Garage at $6 per parking pass.  The passes may only be purchased once in a calendar year.  Payment must be made by payroll deduction using pre-tax benefit dollars.  Passes must be requested and paid for at the Penn Parking office located at 3401 Walnut St. Suite 447a.  For questions or concerns please contact the Penn Parking Office at parking@upenn.edu or 215-898-8667.  

Local and Regional Public Transit - Commuters can travel to and from campus by bus, trolley, subway, or rail via transit authorities such as SEPTA, PATCO, NJ Transit, DART, and Amtrak. Discounts of up to 10% are available along with options for monthly payroll deduction.

Health Equity Commuter Cards- Commuter Cards are accepted at transit agencies, fare vending machines, and designated transit retail centers selling transit passes, tickets, fare cards, and accept the VISA Card for payment. They can also be used in SEPTA commuter parking lots.  Payroll deductions are made with pre-tax dollars.  

Vanpools - Enterprise Rideshare, a national leader in vanpooling and sustainable transportation, offers vanpooling options that are available throughout the region, including New Jersey and Delaware.  Program participants benefit from reduced commuting costs. 

Carpools - Parking permit patrons can take advantage of parking discounts by teaming up with fellow Penn or UPHS employees to form a carpool. Discounts are based on the number of participants in the carpool.

Bike Commuter Expense Reimbursement Program – Offers reimbursement of bicycle commuting expenses to eligible faculty and staff for qualified out-of-pocket expenses up to $240 annually.

AVI transponders are similar to EZ Pass and provide quick and easy access and egress from the parking garage. Parking permit holders at Chestnut 34, Penn Museum, Spruce 38 and Walnut 38 garages have the option to use an AVI transponder to enter and exit their facilities.

AVI transponders should be mounted to the middle of the windshield. They can also lay on the middle of the dashboard. The transponder is not designed as a handheld device. Once the transponder is in place, pull right up to the gate upon entering and exiting the garage so that the signal from the transponder may be correctly read.

Permit holders will have access to their facilities at all times with the AVI transponder. While the transponder replaces the access card for use when entering the garage with your vehicle, cards still provide access to garage pedestrian doors when the doors are locked.

Should you require a replacement device, visit the Penn Transportation and Parking Office at 3401 Walnut Street, Suite 447A.  The replacement fee is $30.00 for AVI boxes and $65 for AVI hangtags and will be refunded if you locate and return your original transponder within two weeks.

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Deluxe International Bus

• Number of Vehicles - 2
• Passenger Capacity - 40
• Amenities - Air Conditioning, Wheelchair Accessible, Bench Seats

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Penn Transit Services' goal is to provide safe, convenient, and reliable service to authorized riders. A fundamental principle is respect for riders as conveyed in the Penn Transit Services Riders Rights and Responsibilities.

Penn Transit's integrated transportation system provides effective, efficient, and safe integrated transit on and around campus within specific service boundaries at no charge for those with a PennCard. Persons with Drexel I.D. can access the bus service only.

Penn Transit's app, PennTransit Mobile allows riders to request a ride on the University's on-demand services such as Pennovation Works, Penn Accessible Transit, and Penn's on-demand Evening Shuttles.  

The University has agreements with Drexel for the Penn-Drexel Bus Services and with SEPTA for LUCY (Loop Around University City) which are also free for PennCard holders. Penn Transit also offers maintenance and charter services for Penn Departments.

Penn supports discounts for public transportation use by faculty, staff, as well as postdoctoral researchers and fellows and students, including a recent benefit increase in the commuter discount.

The University's commuter programs accommodate a variety of circumstances and include discounted, pre-tax purchases of commuter passes and cards that can be used for the integrated network of transit systems that serve Penn's campus. Currently, full-time, eligible faculty, staff, and postdoctoral researchers and fellows can receive discounted commuter fares or cards. Penn also supports discounted commuter travel for full-time students on SEPTA and NJ Transit.

For more information on all our public transportation commuter products as well as our office hours, please see below. Use the following links to find out more about Penn's support of other discounted commuting options such as: biking, vanpooling, carpooling, carsharing and occasional parking.

  Discounted Commuter Passes 

Riders Responsibilities

Penn Transit Services strives to provide a program that is safe and hospitable for everyone. A fundamental principle is respect for riders as conveyed in the Penn Transit Services Riders Responsibilities.

Riders of Penn Transit can expect:

• A courteous and competent driver
• A secure and timely ride
• A driver free of distractions including use of a cell phone or music while driving
• A clean, well-functioning, and safe vehicle
• To be safe and secure within the vehicle before the vehicle starts moving
• To have current route and schedule information available
• To be picked up or dropped off at any identified Penn Transit stop located on campus
• A simple, timely and responsive process for filing an idea or suggestion by calling the Penn Transit supervisor on duty at 215-898-RIDE, or by leaving a message on 215-898-IDEA or on Business Services' Idea Web

Riders responsibilities:

• For safety reasons, all riders must show their valid PennCard, University of the Sciences, and the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) card to the driver upon entering the vehicle. A valid Drexel card can also be used for buses only.
• Drivers may refuse entry to any person not showing a valid institutional ID (listed above). This includes Drexel University cardholders who may ride Penn Buses.
• Each driver has the right to deny service to any disruptive person. Penn Police will provide assistance when required.
• Attention PennCard holders: if your PennCard has been lost, stolen, or forgotten, you must call 215-898-RIDE/7433 before boarding a vehicle to obtain permission to use the system.
• Passengers with a valid PennCard may be accompanied by up to two guests provided they ride with the PennCard or USP card holder.

The above are intended to serve as general guidelines. Please note that Penn Transit service is also subject to applicable University policies and that factors beyond the University’s control (such as weather conditions and safety concerns) may affect the operation of this service

Below is a list of Penn Parking and Transportation's Policies. 

The Departments of Transportation and Parking value the relationships they hold with several organizations throughout the community and the City of Philadelphia.  

Drexel University  - Penn Transit Services maintains a reciprocal arrangement with Drexel University so passengers from Penn may ride Drexel University's bus service and Drexel riders may utilize Penn Bus.  Both schools require passengers to board the buses with their valid institutional IDs so they may ride for free. 

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) - On behalf of the University, Penn Transit works closely with HUP so employees from both organizations may ride these transit systems for free when passengers show the vehicle driver a valid institutional ID.  Also, Penn Parking works closely with HUP to ensure that HUP employees can participate in the University's pre-tax commuter parking program via payroll deduction. 

SEPTA - In collaboration with and funding from Penn and other University City organizations, SEPTA operates LUCY^(r) (Loop Through University City), a bus service in University City District.  PennCard holders can ride LUCY for free.

University of the Sciences of Philadelphia - Complimentary Penn Transit bus and shuttle service is available to these neighboring university students when passengers show drivers their institutional ID.

The Department of Transportation and Parking continues to offer new and innovative programs to the Penn Community. A few of these initiatives are listed below.

Penn Transportation and Parking deliver a wide selection of essential services to the Penn Community. The departments are dedicated to providing superior service that offers safe, convenient, sustainable, and accessible options to those who come to this world-renown institution to work, study, and visit. Penn Transit Services operates a robust transportation network that accommodates over 100,000 passengers every year. Flexible parking permit options meet the requirements of commuters who work at the University while visitors to this attractive urban campus will find a range of parking lots and garages conveniently located near their final destination. 

Of particular importance is the departments’ commitment to programs and practices that underscore the University’s commitment to its Climate Action Plan 2.0.  For example, Penn Transit offers ride share, biking, and bus and shuttle programs as well as commuter discounts for faculty and staff who utilize public transit as a means to travel to and from campus.  The department operates a propane fueling station at the Pennovation Works complex and introduced the Bike Commuters Expense Reimbursement Program.  Penn Parking has recently expanded its occasional parking options for commuters who utilize public transit.

The underlying philosophy at work each day is to instill a culture of sustainability, deliver high-quality service to the community, and to do so in a fiscally responsible manner.  These are the hallmarks of Penn Transportation and Parking.