By Joel McNally
The U-Pass has ridden another stop closer to referendum after a milestone meeting on Jan. 14. The University of Calgary, Students’ Union, and Calgary Transit officials met to finalize details for the controversial deal.
The U-Pass is a comprehensive package proposed for undergraduates that, if approved by the Students’ Legislative Council and voted for by the student body, will provide undergrads with unlimited access to bus or train with a valid campus card.
"It was excellent," enthused University Director of Ancillary Services Pete Fraser of negotiations. "We’ve reached a point where they can give us a letter of intent at the end of the week. I was extremely proud of both the SU negotiators and how [Calgary] Transit was able to make compromises with us."
Among others, the talks covered the topics of staff, faculty, and graduate student opt-ins as well as extended hours of operation for the C-Train and the final price that students will be expected to pay. Some details, however, remain subject to approval by transit administration.
"We won’t know the final numbers until they give us their letter of intent," said SU Vice-President Operations and Finance Natasha Dhillon.
Staff and faculty members at the U of C will likely be permitted to opt into the U-Pass program, though the deal is not contingent on this issue. The fee paid by students will not change if faculty are given the choice of opt-in, as transit does not see their small numbers as a threat to the bottom line. Graduate students, however, will not be allowed to opt in to the undergraduate U-Pass program if it becomes a reality.
"There will be a separate grad referendum," explained Dhillon. "I will take the proposal to the Grad Council at their meeting on the 30th and they will be able to vote on a similar deal for themselves."
Though Calgary Transit is unwilling to promise any new bus routes as a part of this deal, there is a good chance that the letter of intent will include an extension to the current C-Train schedule.
"They sounded positive about extending C-Train hours," Dhillon said. "They might extend by an hour in the evening and an hour in the morning."
Though neither party was willing to comment definitely on the final price tag of the two-year agreement, it is not expected to differ from the $50 per semester figure previously discussed.