U-Pass referendum dates set for March

Referendum dates have been set for students at the University of Regina to vote on a universal bus pass (U-Pass).

The University of Regina’s Students’ Union Board of Directors voted unanimously Wednesday night to hold a referendum March 16-19, the same days as the student union’s general election, according to David Vanderberg, director of Regina Green Ride Transit Network and a U of R student.

If approved, the pass could cost students $70 to $90 a semester for unlimited access to the transit system. Students living on campus, outside the city limits or within one kilometre of campus would be able to opt out of the program.

Vanderberg compared the program to a $60 fee applied to tuition that provides students with access to use a gym on campus even if they choose not to use the facility.

“So, you can’t buy a gym pass in this city for $60, for a month even. By making it a part of all students’ tuition, students get a much reduced rate, so that’s the idea behind the U-Pass as well,” Vanderberg said.

Currently, students are paying $65 a month for public transit. By 2017, that fee is expected to climb to $78 a month, or $624 over two semesters. By comparison, a U-Pass at the high-end estimate over two semesters could cost $180.

Students voted against the proposal in a referendum in 2009. But since then, Vanderberg said parking spaces that have decreased on campus with the construction of a new residence will eventually be replaced in part with more expensive underground parking that got students’ attention, he said.

“Students are looking for more options where to park their cars or not bring their vehicles to campus,” Vanderberg said.

About 40 Canadian universities, including the University of Saskatchewan, have a U-Pass system, he added.

Coun. Bob Hawkins (Ward 2), a former U of R president, opposes the U-Pass program.

“I think that the student body is already paying high tuition fees. I’m reluctant to make all students pay for a pass, many of whom won’t use it. I think that’s an extra expense they can’t afford,” Hawkins said Saturday, adding that the city transit already has student rates.

“They don’t make the profs at the university buy a bus pass (and) they don’t make employees at city hall buy a bus pass. Why should we make students who don’t wish to travel by bus buy a bus pass?” Hawkins said.

If the referendum is successful, city council will still have to vote on the proposal. One thing Hawkins will be watching is voter turnout at the referendum. “I don’t think that a small voter turnout among the student body will tell us anything on this. So, I think that the voter turnout is going to make a difference here.”

Hawkins added that although the university has estimates on how much a U-Pass might cost, the city hasn’t provided any cost estimates or said if it would offer a U-Pass.