Mitch SorensenStudents in Fort Saskatchewan, Spruce Grove, and Leduc can look forward to using their U-Passes at home starting January 1, 2017.
Municipal leaders, transit stakeholders, and student groups gathered at NAIT this afternoon to hear that U-Pass services of the University of Alberta, MacEwan, NAIT, and NorQuest College will be expanded to transit systems in Fort Saskatchewan, Spruce Grove, and Leduc.
According to Robyn Paches, Students’ Union Vice-President (Operations and Finance), this expansion won’t add to the $141.67 students already pay for the U-Pass.
Currently, Fort Sask Transit charges $90 per month for unlimited commuter trips from their transit centre to Clareview station. Leduc Transit currently assesses a fee of $1 per ride on their system for U-Pass holders. The City of Spruce Grove charges $95 per month for a student pass, and does not run a bus directly to the U of A. Paches emphasized the burden this can place on students commuting from these areas.
“Coming from a rural background, navigating transit is daunting,” Paches said. “After books, tuition, and living expenses, there is little left for luxuries like owning a car or taking a cab.
“This change not only helps students financially, it encourages them to take transit and establish an environmentally responsible commuting pattern.”
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson echoed Paches’ comments, recalling his involvement with the initial implementation of the U-Pass nine years ago, and how the program has grown since then. Aside from environmental benefits of getting cars off the road, Iveson also said the expanded U-Pass would help free up parking space for students and staff for when they choose to drive.
