Ellington

There’s a chance that the days of being able to return a U-PASS may be over, but it’s going to take longer than expected to find out.

The universal U-PASS would be a mandatory $60-80 fee for all students with rates initially planned to be adjustable biannually. After missing its proponents’ original winter quarter 2011 implementation target, the universal U-PASS option has been delayed for another quarter. The proposed transit option was postponed after the ASUW Senate and Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) rushed to endorse the new pass so it could be voted on during this week’s Board of Regents meeting, which would have allowed the new program to begin winter quarter, if passed.

Josh Kavanagh, Transportation Services director, said the UW Student Transportation Task Force and Transportation Services decided on Nov. 3 to postpone the Board of Regents’ vote on the universal U-PASS. The regents will discuss the option at their November meeting, but won’t vote on whether to approve it or not.

“There was more work to be done in terms of ASUW and Transportation Services, and having a coordinating approach for moving the universal U-PASS forward,” Kavanagh said.

Many student senators felt that the process of GPSS and ASUW Senate endorsements of the universal U-PASS were too rushed.

The ASUW Senate passed a resolution in support of the universal U-PASS Oct. 25, then rescinded the resolution and passed it again after further discussion Nov. 2.

“Everyone thought the process was going a little too fast,” said Andrew Lewis, ASUW’s Office of Government Relations assistant director. “Everyone thought a program of this magnitude and with its implications, it was moving too quickly. … Everyone agrees that it should happen, but we want to make sure it’s done right, and no one’s surprised.”

Along with an almost 200 percent price jump for the U-PASS during the 2008-09 academic year, the U-PASS budget shortfall grew to almost $5 million this year. To explore other options for the current U-PASS program, the UW Student Transportation Task Force conducted a survey last year to which 14,144 students, faculty and staff responded. The universal U-PASS option had the strongest support with a 79 percent approval rating.

Why the rush?

The last regents meeting before winter quarter is Nov. 18, but the deadline to submit an agenda item for that meeting was Nov. 1. This deadline, along with the time needed for coordinating winter-quarter U-PASS circulation, moved the process at a quick pace, Kavanagh said.

“Program changes need to be solidified in November, and the window between [ASUW Senate and GPSS meetings] and Nov. 1 was very small,” Kavanagh said. “Ideally, it would have been moved forward earlier when the UW Transportation Taskforce completed their work in the spring, and leaders determined this was the direction, but action wasn’t possible at the time.”

Lewis said Transportation Services wanted to expedite the process for fiscal reasons.

“Transit services wanted to move faster because of financial difficulties that would only be systematically helped via the universal U-PASS,” Lewis said.

Now, however, ASUW and Transportation Services are both comfortable with the process’ pace.

“It’s maybe delayed by a quarter — we’re looking for implementation in spring — but it’s definitely the best route to go,” Lewis said.

Delayed costs

With the price range between $60 and $80, Transportation Services is aiming for a universal U-PASS with a $75 price tag.

The price, however, will likely vary with regional transit rates. Historically, prices have increased every two to three years, but due to the current economy and decline in sales tax revenue, Kavanagh said prices have risen annually.

Kavanagh said the delay didn’t lose money for the U-PASS program, but could have other effects.

With the universal U-PASS missing its winter quarter goal, the two-year price lock that was originally going to cover two contract periods between UW Transportation Services and regional transit agencies will now extend to three contract periods.

Kavanagh said that’s a risk right now for Transportation Services because it introduces more price uncertainty. With each passing contract period, an annual period that aligns with the academic year, there’s the possibility of transit agencies raising their rates. However, Kavanagh said he’s prepared to “take on the risk in order to help make this a win for students.”

Looking ahead

Proponents of the universal U-PASS option hope it will be approved and implemented by spring quarter. Lewis said the process is on a more realistic timeline now with “everyone involved on board.”

“People want to make sure this is going smoothly and fairly,” Lewis said.

Reach reporter Katie Burke at news@dailyuw.com.