Get Your SmartPass to Ride VTA for Free

Ride VTA with Your SmartPass

Foothill students get unlimited rides on VTA buses and light rail while enrolled in credit classes. The SmartPass is valid only for VTA services within Santa Clara County and stays active for the entire quarter. If you continue at Foothill, your SmartPass will automatically roll over to the next quarter. When you leave the college, the SmartPass benefit ends, but your Clipper card remains active and is yours to keep.

Pick Up Your SmartPass

Get your personalized Clipper card pre-loaded with the VTA SmartPass at the ASFC Welcome Center (Campus Center, Room 2016). At the Sunnyvale Center, visit the Student Resource Center, Room 211.

You must be enrolled in classes for the current quarter in order to request a VTA SmartPass Clipper card.

How to Get Your SmartPass

1	Register for Classes	Go to MyPortal to register for your classes. You will automatically be charged a mandatory SmartPass fee. See Fees for details.
2	Get Your Personalized Clipper Card	Pick up your personalized Clipper card from the Smart Shop. Keep this card; it is valid for multiple quarters and for life beyond Foothill College.
3	Register Your Clipper Card Online	Go to www.clippercard.com and click on the "Register a card" link on the top left side of the page. You will need to create a My Clipper account. If you do not register your card and lose it, you will lose all non-SmartPass values you have placed on the card. Registering also allows you to use your card for multiple transit agencies.
4	Enjoy Unlimited Rides	See VTA routes to Foothill that travel from where you live and work. The SmartPass on your Clipper card will be valid for the following periods each quarter. As long as you are enrolled in classes, you can enjoy unlimited rides. Tag your Clipper card next to the fare box when entering the bus or light rail.

SmartPass Validity by Quarter

SmartPass Quarter	Ordering Begins	Ordering Ends	Valid From	Valid To
Summer	8th week of spring	8th week of summer	4 weeks before end of spring	2 weeks after start of fall
Fall	9th week of summer	8th week of fall	2 weeks before start of fall	2 weeks after start of winter
Winter	9th week of fall	8th week of winter	2 weeks before end of fall	2 weeks after start of spring
Spring	9th week of winter	8th week of spring	2 weeks before end of winter	2 weeks after start of summer

The SmartPass is for currently enrolled Foothill students only. Any other use constitutes fraud.

SmartPass Fees

Part-time (0–5.9 units): $5.75 per quarter.
Part-time (6–11.9 units): $6.75 per quarter.
Full-time (12+ units): $7.75 per quarter.

What You Get

Unlimited rides on VTA buses and light rail while enrolled in credit classes.
Valid only for VTA services within Santa Clara County.
Active for the entire quarter; rolls over for continuing students.
When you leave Foothill, the Clipper card is yours to keep; SmartPass benefit ends.

Eligibility and Restrictions

You must be registered in at least one credit class.
Students in any in-person or hybrid class are assessed the SmartPass fee.
Students who take only online classes and live outside Santa Clara County are not charged.
If you live outside the county and were exempted but want a SmartPass, you may opt in at the Smart Shop (Room 2016); the quarterly fee will be applied.

Using Your Clipper Card

The SmartPass Clipper card is contactless. Tap your card on the Clipper reader at bus entrances, fare gates, or stations.

You can also use your Clipper card with other Bay Area transit agencies by adding cash value or purchasing additional passes to the card.

Bus Routes to Foothill College

For connecting routes, use the Trip Planner at vta.org.

When You Can Use the SmartPass

Valid seven days a week on VTA buses and light rail.
VTA Express routes are not fully included; SmartPass provides a 50% discount. Add cash to your Clipper card before boarding Express routes.
Not valid on ACE, Amtrak, BART, Caltrain, Highway 17 Express, Dumbarton Express, Monterey-Salinas Transit, or SamTrans.

Even if you don’t commute by bus, you can use SmartPass on weekends or whenever it’s convenient.

Program Funding

All enrolled Foothill students are eligible for the VTA ASFC SmartPass through a mandatory quarterly fee established by the Associated Students (ASFC) via a Spring 2017 proposition and approved by the Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees. Effective Spring 2018:

Part-time (0–5.9 units): $5.75 per quarter.
Part-time (6–11.9 units): $6.75 per quarter.
Full-time (12+ units): $7.75 per quarter.

FAQs

1. What is the SmartPass and how do I get one?

SmartPass is a partnership between the Associated Students of Foothill College (ASFC) and Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority (VTA), which gives Foothill College students the opportunity to enjoy unlimited rides on VTA's Regular Bus Service and Light Rail Service for the duration of each quarter provided you are currently enrolled for the quarter.

The SmartPass is load on a Clipper card. The Clipper card is a reloadable contactless smart card used for electronic transit fare payment in the San Francisco/San Jose Bay Area. Keep your Clipper card, it is good for multiple quarters and for life beyond Foothill College.

2. How do I get a Clipper Card?

Get your personalized Clipper card from ASFC Welcome Centerin the Campus Center, room 2016. You must be enrolled in at least one credit class. Your new SmartPass Clipper card is available for immediate VTA travel.

3. Do I need to get a new Clipper card each quarter?

No. As long as you are enrolled in at least one credit class each quarter the SmartPass will remain active.

4. Is there a grace period after the expiration date of the old SmartPass?

The VTA SmartPass is generally valid for two weeks before the previous quarter ends and two weeks after the next quarter begins. The valid dates are listed below. After this period, there's no grace period. VTA will not allow you to board if your SmartPass has expired and you have not loaded any cash on your Clipper card.

5. Can I use the SmartPass during recess periods between quarters?

Yes, see the above grid. With a two-week overlap period at the start and end of each quarter, the valid dates overlap from quarter to quarter, which will allow use of the SmartPass during winter, spring and summer recess breaks.

6. I have applied for financial aid and I am waiting for financial aid approval and/or disbursement.

Students generally receive their financial aid during the first week of classes. As previously mentioned, the SmartPass is generally valid for two weeks before the previous quarter ends and two weeks after the next quarter begins.

7. I already have a Clipper card. Can I use it for the SmartPass?

No. The SmartPass can only be loaded on Clipper cards provided by the ASFC Welcome Center.

8. I dropped all my classes. Is my SmartPass still valid?

No, once you drop all your classes your SmartPass will be disabled within 72 hours. DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR CLIPPER CARD. It is still valid for any other values you have added.

9. May I give away or sell my SmartPass since I don't ride VTA?

Absolutely not. The SmartPass is not transferable. It is a violation of California Penal Code 640 (punishable by a fine of up to $250 and/or community service) if you give away or sell your VTA SmartPass Clipper card, or accept a VTA SmartPass Clipper from another student.

The College will report any attempt to sell, transfer, or misuse a VTA SmartPass Clipper card to law enforcement. Students found in violation may be held responsible for an amount equal to the cost of a VTA Adult Regular Annual Pass (about $880) and may face additional disciplinary actions under the Foothill-De Anza Community College District’s Student Code of Conduct (AP 5510) and Student Due Process and Discipline (AP 5520), including possible suspension or expulsion.

All VTA SmartPass Clipper card holders shall be subject to VTA's fare inspection regulations. Misuse will result in confiscation by VTA authorized personnel.