U-Pass discount program for post-secondary students extended for five years
Posted January 30, 2020 8:09 pm.
Last Updated January 30, 2020 8:10 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Tens of thousands of post-secondary students across Metro Vancouver will enjoy the U-Pass transit program for the next five years.
B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has renewed the program that gives discounted transit fare to post-secondary students.
“The U-Pass BC program provides us with the freedom to get around and the security of making life more affordable and convenient,” said Christina Ilnitchi, vice-president external, Alma Mater Society at UBC in a statement. “It not only connects us to our campuses, our jobs and our region, but it’s also the more accessible and environmentally friendly travel option.”
Currently, the U-Pass costs $41 per month and allows unlimited travel on SkyTrain, SeaBus and buses. The fee is charged to every student as part of their tuition.
A similar pass costs adults $177 per month.
The 10 schools who offer the U-Pass “overwhelmingly” support the decision to extend the program, says a statement from the ministry.
“I remember how undeniably important my U-Pass was to my ability to get around while I was studying at UBC. Countless students have relied on this program over the years to get them to and from school affordably, enabling them to succeed,” says Bowinn Ma, MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale. “We’re proud to invest in their success, while promoting more environmentally, socially responsible transportation choices, now and into the future.”
The monthly fee will be climbing slightly. In May, the price will go up to $42.50.
By May of 2024 it will rise again to $46.
The program launched in 2010 and is a partnership between the province, TransLink and student associations.
