Universal Transit Pass
Encyclopedia
In North America
,
Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass) is a program that gives students enrolled in participating post-secondary institutions unlimited access to local transit. Programs are typically funded through mandatory fees that eligible students pay in each term in which they are registered. Fees are transferred to the local transit authority to fund the required transit service. Because fees are collected from a large participant base, U-Pass prices are lower than the amount students would otherwise pay for monthly passes or tickets over the course of a term. The U-Pass price charged to students depends on a variety of factors which differ among municipalities, transit systems and post-secondary institutions.
U-Pass programs can facilitate:
became the first university in Canada to implement a universal transit pass program. The "Bus-It" program was implemented with Kingston Transit
. Nearby St. Lawrence College
also participates in this program. Students are required to pay for the service as part of student activity fees. Twelve Canadian universities have implemented a UPass program, including the University of Ontario Institute of Technology
which offers travel on GO Transit buses in addition to Durham Region Transit buses.
Some students at University of Ottawa have taken their student union, the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO), to court to recover U-Pass funds after allegations arose that the SFUO did not properly administer the U-Pass referendum question. The matter has not yet been decided at court.
At Carleton University, at least one newspaper reported that students faced overcrowded buses as a result of the U-Pass. [2]
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
,
Universal Transit Pass (U-Pass) is a program that gives students enrolled in participating post-secondary institutions unlimited access to local transit. Programs are typically funded through mandatory fees that eligible students pay in each term in which they are registered. Fees are transferred to the local transit authority to fund the required transit service. Because fees are collected from a large participant base, U-Pass prices are lower than the amount students would otherwise pay for monthly passes or tickets over the course of a term. The U-Pass price charged to students depends on a variety of factors which differ among municipalities, transit systems and post-secondary institutions.
Potential benefits
U-Pass programs offer students a way to lower their transportation costs while at school and also benefit the local community and the environment.U-Pass programs can facilitate:
- Transit service improvements to the institution
- Reduced traffic congestion around the campus and local community
- Contribute to fewer emissions, and
- Reduce demand for parking facilities (less resources spent on building parking facilities)
Canada
In 1973, Queen's UniversityQueen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
became the first university in Canada to implement a universal transit pass program. The "Bus-It" program was implemented with Kingston Transit
Kingston Transit
Kingston Transit operates the transit service in Kingston, Ontario, Canada as well as to the neighbouring community of Amherstview, in Loyalist Township....
. Nearby St. Lawrence College
St. Lawrence College, Ontario
St. Lawrence College is a College of Applied Arts and Technology with three campuses in Eastern Ontario, namely Brockville , Cornwall and Kingston .-History:...
also participates in this program. Students are required to pay for the service as part of student activity fees. Twelve Canadian universities have implemented a UPass program, including the University of Ontario Institute of Technology
University of Ontario Institute of Technology
The University of Ontario Institute of Technology is located in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. The university shares its campus with Durham College. The university was founded in 2002 and accepted its first students in 2003, making it one of Canada's newest universities...
which offers travel on GO Transit buses in addition to Durham Region Transit buses.
Ottawa
In 2011, a study by the City of Ottawa showed that after students at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa adopted the U-Pass program, the gains of transit use came mostly from walkers and cyclists (75%) as opposed to car drivers (25%). Furthermore, at the University of Ottawa, car use as a transportation method to campus remained unchanged after implementing the U-Pass [1]. This raised some doubts as to the supposed environmental and social benefits of the U-Pass, considering that walking and cycling produces no pollution, whereas bus use causes pollution.Some students at University of Ottawa have taken their student union, the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO), to court to recover U-Pass funds after allegations arose that the SFUO did not properly administer the U-Pass referendum question. The matter has not yet been decided at court.
At Carleton University, at least one newspaper reported that students faced overcrowded buses as a result of the U-Pass. [2]