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Commuter Transit Pass Program

Changes to Commuter Transit Benefit

Please see the commuter benefit website for information on what is changing starting July 2026. You must take action between May 11 and June 5 to place your order for the July 2026 Benefit Month, otherwise you will not have a benefit in July 2026. Follow the steps below to place your order.

For questions and help signing in to or navigating the Inspira portal please contact Inspira at (800) 284‑4885. Please note, if you do not place an order by June 5, you will not receive a commuter benefit for July.

Program overview

The University has partnered with Inspira, a major processor of commuter benefits, to administer our pre-tax Commuter Transit program. Faculty and staff elect a flat dollar amount to be deducted pre-tax from their paycheck and that will be used to purchase transit passes and fares. In the Chicago area the program covers the popular CTA, Metra, South Shore, and Pace transit systems. 

Commuter benefits will be deposited as a dollar amount on the Inspira debit card on the first day of each month.

You will use the Inspira debit card to purchase transit passes or fares directly from a transit authority (e.g., CTA, Metra, METRO, BART, OMNY, etc.). You must purchase passes and fares directly from the transit authority and cannot purchase them from a third party (e.g., Walgreens, Currency Exchange, etc.). You cannot pay out of pocket and be reimbursed for commuter transit passes.

Faculty and staff on paid or unpaid leaves of absence are not eligible for the commuter benefits.

You must place or change orders by the 5th of the month prior to the month in which you receive the benefit.

Any new enrollments or changes entered after the 5th will take effect one month later. No refunds or adjustments can be provided.

For example, for a transit pass in April:
- Must place transit order by March 5th;
- Deduction taken from last paycheck in March;
- Benefit is for April.

Important information about the Inspira Debit Card

If you enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account within the last five years, you were issued an Inspira debit card. Your commuter benefit funds will be deposited to this Inspira debit card on the first day of each month.

Please note, Inspira debit cards expire five years after they are issued. If you no longer have your card, or it has expired, call Inspira at (844) 729-3539 after placing your commuter benefit order to request a replacement card. New cards may take up to 10 business days to receive, so please plan accordingly.

Enrollment Instructions 

Creating an Account / Logging into Inspira

Purchasing Transit Passes

Commuter benefits will be deposited as a dollar amount on the Inspira debit card on the first day of the month. You will use the Inspira debit card as the payment method when purchasing eligible transit passes and fares directly from a transit authority (e.g., CTA, Metra, METRO, BART, OMNY, etc.). You must purchase passes and fares directly from the transit authority and cannot purchase them from a third party (e.g., Walgreens, Currency Exchange, etc.). You cannot pay out of pocket and be reimbursed for commuter transit passes.

Canceling enrollment

If you no longer wish to participate in the program, you must log into https://inspirafinancial.com/ before the monthly cutoff date (5th of each month) and shut off your deduction. If you do not shut off your deduction before the cutoff date you will receive your transit benefit for one more month. No refunds or adjustments can be provided.