Student associations across Ottawa held a meeting with city officials Sept. 10 to discuss transit, resulting in the possibility of a summer U-Pass for the city’s post-secondary students.
Councillor Diane Deans, chair of the city’s transit commission, said the city made two proposals regarding a summer U-Pass to the student associations, which included the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA).
The first proposal would provide a U-Pass to full-time students in the summer months from May to August for $184.50, the same price as the current cost of the U-Pass for one term.
The second proposal was to provide the U-Pass to all full-time students for the entire year.
According to the city’s presentation at the meeting, that pass may cost $553.50, or the price of three terms of the U-Pass. However Deans said if students chose this option a lower price could be negotiated.
Part-time students and students entering or leaving Carleton would not be eligible, according to Deans.
“All full-time students enrolled in the summer semester would be in the program,” she said via email.
Gina Parker, CUSA vice-president (student issues) said she was disappointed with the city’s proposals.
She said the city did not take their request for removing the age cap on monthly student transit discounts seriously—which are currently capped at 19 years of age and younger.
She said the city pushed the student associations to sign up for the U-Pass system instead.
“We met with them hoping to have a constructive discussion about how we can remove the age cap to reinstate the student monthly bus passes,” she said. “We pitched that to them and they said, ‘great, sign up for a U-Pass, everyone.’”
In their presentation to the student associations the city provided a price comparison of the current student transit discount and the proposed summer U-Pass.
The current student transit discount costs students 19 years and under $78.75 per month, and any student 20 years and older $98.75. The proposed summer U-Pass would cost students $46.13 per month, according to the city’s presentation.
The presentation also included potential concerns with the summer pass, including how student status might change during the year between full and part-time.
Deans said before either proposed summer U-Pass program would be put into effect, the student associations must provide evidence that students are in favour.
If the city refuses to remove the age cap, Parker said she would be open to the summer U-Pass on the condition that there would be an opt-out clause.
She said the student associations would meet again with the city officials to discuss the best course of action regarding summer transit, but no meeting date has been set.
