U-Pass gets continued support
November 24, 2009
Strathcona County agrees to continue support for U-Pass
Strathcona County Council today supported a proposed agreement that would see the U-Pass become a permanent program. Joint support from other partners and the students who will benefit from the program is required to finalize the agreement.
The U-Pass program is a partnership between the City of Edmonton, City of St. Albert, Strathcona County, the University of Alberta and MacEwan. It provides affordable, convenient student travel on all three municipal transit systems. The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology is considering becoming a partner in the program.
The initial three-year pilot program that ends in April 2010 has received strong participation. Approximately, 90 per cent of all University of Alberta and MacEwan students take the pass.
The initial U-Pass price was $90 per semester, and with annual inflationary adjustments, the current price is $97.43. To move closer to a better rate of cost recovery for the overall program, new pricing is being proposed. The suggested price per semester is $110 for 2010/2011, $125 for 2011/2012 and $140 for 2012/2013. These prices still provide students a discounted transit rate, and increases will be phased in to ease the cost burden to students. If the program is approved, a U-Pass fee becomes mandatory for students.
Under the new agreement, the U-Pass program will also be open to additional post-secondary institutions, and there is potential for a summer U-Pass starting in 2011.
"We are pleased to see the U-Pass program take off as it did in its first three years," says Mayor Cathy Olesen. 'To commit to an ongoing program is a positive way to help students with one of the costs of getting a higher education, getting to school, while at the same time helping the environment by reducing the number of vehicles on the road."
The City of Edmonton has formally given its support to the proposed agreement, and St. Albert is expected to consider it later in November. Student referendums to decide on the permanent
U-Pass program will be held next spring at each of the partnering post-secondary institutions.
More information on the U-Pass program
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Contact: Mayor Cathy Olesen, 780-464-8000
Last updated: Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Page ID: 3723