MTA Transit Subsidy

MTA Pass Sales Are Now Virtual! Anyone looking to purchase MTA monthly, weekly, daily, and MARC train passes may now do so through the CharmPass app. The app has several benefits:

• Tickets are always available on your smartphone
• There are no paper tickets to lose
• The app provides a FREE 90-minute transfer window
• Tickets are not calendar based (i.e. the monthly pass is active for 31 days after the first time you use it)

To get started, download the CharmPass app from the Google or Apple Store, create an account, and you’re ready to start making purchases!

Students actively taking courses at TU may purchase discounted monthly passes through the CharmPass app. Complete the MTA CharmPass App Opt-In Form on the Auxiliary Services Business Office (ASBO) website and create an account in the app using your TU student email address. ASBO staff will notify you once your account is ready for purchases.

For questions or details about the program, email onecard AT_TOWSON. If you do not have a smartphone to use the CharmPass app, please contact onecard AT_TOWSON for additional purchase options.

Free Ridership for Faculty & Staff

Regular status faculty and staff receive free ridership benefits for MTA buses, the light Rail, Metro Subway as well as commuter bus service lines 120, 150, and 160 in the Baltimore region. All regular-status faculty and staff who wish to use the free ridership benefit must get a state ID. Steps to obtain a state ID:

There are two forms and two photo requirements that need to be submited in order to obtain a State Employees ID 

1. ID application (PDF)
2. State Security Card Acknowledgement (PDF)
3. a copy of their government-issued photo ID (driver’s license or passport)
4. jpeg photograph of the applicant

Please read the Directions and Photo Requirement (PDF)  for links to the forms, the ID Coordinator, and more specific information regarding the photo restrictions.

All Towson University faculty, staff and students who are willing to give up using a personal vehicle to get to/from campus may take advantage of the TU Sustainable Transportation Program benefits by submitting an application.  The Sustainable Transportation program allots eight free parking codes per year just for choosing the MTA or other alternatives to driving.  

For MARC Train Monthly Pass Subsidy:

• Submit the Sustainable Transportation Application (PDF) to Parking & Transportation Services.
• To purchase the MARC pass, submit a receipt for the purchase, along with a completed reimbursement form to Parking & Transportation Services.
• Requests for each month within a fiscal year should be submitted no later than June 1 of that year.
• The MARC train reimbursement is up to $25 per month.
• See our Parking Regulations (PDF) for more detailed information.

Faculty/Staff members with the MTA Subsidy (through the Sustainable Transportation Program) are also eligible for:

• Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH):  Provides free transportation when you are stuck at work during an emergency.  See our Parking Regulations (PDF) for detailed information on GRH.
• Sustainable Transportation Parking Passes:  Provides free parking codes each term for those times when a vehicle must be brought on campus.  Find out more information about TU's options for Sustainable Transportation and using the free parking codes through ParkMobile Reservations.

Participation in the program is required through the end of the fiscal year. If it becomes necessary to stop payroll deduction, a request must be submitted to Auxiliary Services Business Office (ASBO) one month in advance. No refund will be issued for deductions that have been processed or for the passes that are not picked up from ASBO.