Universal transit pass

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.

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 University became the first university in Canada to implement a universal transit pass program. The "Bus-It" program was implemented with Kingston Transit. [ [http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/transportation/transit/bus-it.asp City of Kingston, Ontario, Canada - Queen's AMS & Kingston Transit Unveil An Enhanced Bus-It Service ] ] Nearby St. Lawrence College also participates in this program. Students are required to pay for the service as part of student activity fees. Currently, more than 60 Canadian universities have implemented a UPass program.

ee also

*U-Pass (Vancouver)

References

External links

Canada

* [http://www.tc.gc.ca/programs/environment/UTSP/universaltransitpasses.htm Transport Canada]
* [http://www.uvss.uvic.ca/index.php?page=upass UVic UPass]
* [http://www.upass.ubc.ca UBC UPass]
* [http://www.sfu.ca/upass SFU UPass]
* [http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/SMUU-Pass.html SMU UPass]
* [http://www.edmonton.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_0_279_218_0_43/http%3B/CMSServer/COEWeb/getting+around/fares/Universal+Transit+Pass+UPass.htm City of Edmonton]

USA

* [http://www.duluthtransit.com/collegiate.htm Duluth Transit Authority U-Pass]