By Skyler Bell
UTA will begin offering a pro-rated bas pass to BYU students at the beginning of Winter Semester 2006.
The passes, which will sell for $40 rather than the $60 asked during the fall semester, will be priced at $25 as of the start of Spring Semester 2006. No matter when and at what price students purchase the pass, they will be good until November 2006.
?When we announced the rate in August, we made it clear it would be a pro-rated amount,? said Carri Jenkins, university spokeswoman. ?We are now seeing that the students who used the bus during the past three years on a regular basis duplicated with the number of those who are purchasing the bus pass.?
The pass covers all UTA fares, including express buses and TRAX trains, which are traditionally more expensive than local commuter routes. The Ed-pass does not, however, include ski buses that take commuters to local ski resorts.
?Some students think they need to purchase a new bus pass for each semester, but passes purchased at the beginning of fall semester are good for a year,? said Georgia Rasmussen, Student Life vice president administrative secretary, in press release. ?Some students may decide to purchase a bus pass halfway through the year because of cold weather.?
Colin Kent, a communications major from Sandy, said anyone without a pass already should take advantage of the price drop.
?I got married and my wife, and I live near Salt Lake,? he said. ?There?s just too much snow, and it?s just too expensive to drive down everyday. Besides, it?s a really good deal. It didn?t make sense with the change in policy. The kids with the money to pay for parking are the ones with cars, but the kids without money are the ones who have to pay for the bus. It?s just all backwards.?
The regular price for a monthly pass is $47, which is more expensive than the BYU Winter 2006 price for a 10-month pass. Monthly passes for 10 months would normally cost $470, more than a 1000 percent increase.
?We entered into this partnership with UTA to support mass transit, and we encourage students to participate in the Ed-pass program,? Jenkins said.
To register for a bus pass, students must use the Route Y online system.
Students can also pick-up their passes at the Information Desk (2310 WSC) or at OneStop Student Services in the Wilkinson Student Center at the start of Winter Semester 2006.
For more information about UTA, including an online trip planner, detour listings and route schedules, visit utabus.com.