<p>I got my UPASS in the mail today. There was a return envelope in case I didn’t want it. I don’t think it’s mandatory… as of now.</p>
<p>@OP: Get an orca card. You can deposit money at any of the Metro Kiosks (Closest to UW campus is Westlake Station I think). It’s like a debit card and you tap it on the Orca machine on buses (easy to see) to charge it. It also logs the time you use the orca, so if you transfer, you aren’t charged extra unless you transfer to a Sound Transit or go from 1 zone to 2 zone (see Metro Bus guidelines). You can get an orca card by applying for one online or going to one of the Kiosks and buying one from the employee at the window. I think it’s $5. Don’t load too much money into the card at one time in case you lose the card. If you are under 19, you can show your ID (ie. Drivers License, passport) to the kiosk employee and s/he will set your card to charge only Youth fare until your 19th birthday.</p>