By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

City to explore affordable UPass transit system for post-secondary students

Mar 27, 2017 | 7:22 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The City of Lethbridge hopes the third time might be the charm trying to implement a more affordable UPass transit system.

The move is in response to concerns brought forward at the February 27, 2017 City Council meeting by Angie Nikoleychuk, student representative, about a lack of parking and a need for other affordable options. At that time, she requested Council consider reducing student transit passes to $289 per year — split into six month passes — instead of the current $289 per semester.

“Let’s be honest, we’re all low income. Most of us make less than $30,000 a year. Lots of us make no income at all, aside from our student loans. So, we have limited income, and then we have thousands of dollars every semester going to books,” Nikoleychuk had previously explained.

A final decision was delayed for one month to give City administration time to gather more information on the issue. Conrad Westerson, transit manager, presented three solutions on Monday (Mar. 27), but ultimately recommended that a UPass at a discounted rate would be the best option.

In both 2006 and 2011, referendums were voted down at the U of L to enact a UPass. The partnership between the school and City transit department during the vote didn’t offer viable opt-out clauses that students agreed with.

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The new system offered up by Westerson could cost around $77 per semester — mandatory upon registration — but include opt-out clauses for those who:

– live outside Lethbridge;

– take all their courses online;

– have a CNIB card;

– use para-transit;

– need to use their vehicle to do a practicum outside of transit access;

– attend a satellite site not serviced by transit;

– live within 1.25-kilometers of the university.

“The intent is that we’ll work with the new students’ union that takes effect — I believe — in May of this year. So, we won’t be able to work with them until next fall semester starting in September… with a referendum intended in the spring semester, somewhere between February and March of 2018,” Westerson went on to explain. “It would take effect beginning in the fall semester of 2018.”

If students vote in favour of the change, Lethbridge College students may also have access to the UPass rate, and begin a tripartite agreement between the U of L students’ union, university administration and Lethbridge transit.

But Council’s decision did little to ease Nikoleychuk.

“I’m really disappointed that we have to continue paying a large amount of money for a system that doesn’t work… It doesn’t do anything to get students on the bus.

“So, they’re going to be spending all this money on a transit pass and they’re going to be pushing UPass, but there’s nobody using it,” she continued. “If nobody’s on the bus, why would they vote for it? I’m not going to vote for something, and offer to pay for something that you’re going to use and I’m not. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

She says she was hoping for a faster solution, and isn’t convinced that the UPass will go through this time, given that it’s already failed twice in the past.

Westerson on the other hand says he’s been in contact with the current students union, which is confident that new opt-out clauses could result in a yes vote in next year’s referendum.

CORRECTION: Lethbridge News Now was contacted March 28 by Cameron Howey, students’ union president, who clarified that the union maintains a neutral opinion on this issue, and understands that improved opt-out clauses may not automatically result in a positive vote.