University students set to decide fate of U-Pass program

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This article was published 29/01/2020 (2305 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LOCAL post-secondary students will vote on whether they want to renew the discounted Transit pass program in the coming weeks, in campus referendums called after Winnipeg city council unanimously endorsed a fare hike.

The University of Manitoba Students’ Union is holding a referendum on the future of the U-Pass, a bus pass agreement between students and Winnipeg Transit, between Feb. 12-14.

The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association is organizing a similar vote during its annual general election, between March 2-4.

“We felt it necessary to give students a choice when talking about increasing their fees by $50 a year, especially in an environment where tuition continues to climb,” said Jakob Sanderson, UMSU president.

Driven by student politicians, the U-Pass was adopted four years ago, following successful campus-wide referendums. The current deal expires May 31.

The future is unclear for the City of Winnipeg program should students from both or either school vote to abandon it. A spokeswoman for Winnipeg Transit said the public service was unable to accommodate an interview Wednesday.

Full-time students at either university currently pay $136.25 per term for a U-Pass, which offers unlimited rides on Winnipeg Transit between September and April.

That fee is expected to increase by $24.50 in September 2020, and by the rate of inflation in the years that follow. The change has been deemed necessary by Transit officials, citing the costs associated with the program’s extension to Red River College students in the fall.

Although it would still give students a nearly 50 per cent discount (compared to buying a standard post-secondary pass for four months at $81.65 each), student politicians, including Sanderson, have raised concerns about it becoming increasingly inaccessible.

“That being said, what I think matters most to myself — and I speak for the rest of UMSU’s executive team on this — is that this program continues,” Sanderson said, adding it provides students with an affordable way to get to class and promotes a sustainable commute.

Last year, 59 per cent of eligible U of M students used the U-Pass at least three times every week, while 83 per cent activated their pass throughout the year.

The UMSU will promote its pro-U-Pass stance in the days leading up to the ranked ballot referendum next month. Anti-U-Pass campaigns will also have the opportunity to spread their message on campus before students cast their ballots online.

U of M students will be able to choose to keep the pass as is, despite the higher price tag, expand the pass to pay an additional $77 in the winter term to extend unlimited rides through the summer, or abandon it altogether.

Sanderson said while he understands students who don’t use Transit don’t want to pay the mandatory fee, it’s universality is essential to the program, and allows the pass to be affordable “for the students who need it the most.”

In contrast, the U of W students union is taking a neutral approach to its campaign.

Vice-president student affairs Noelle Sagher said the association will hold forums and educate students on the implications of the pass, ahead of in-person voting in early March. “We do realize the values of the U-Pass system, but we also do realize the inaccessibility that the increase is creating,” Sagher said.

Depending on the results, the respective student unions will meet with Winnipeg Transit to figure out next steps.

Meanwhile, Red River College students are waiting on the city’s multi-year budget to confirm their participation in the program.

Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie