Student U-Passes will now come at a price, but it is still the cheapest way for public transportation for students, according to Shereen Eaton, communications coordinator at ASU’s Parking and Transit Services.

“Since the program began in fall 2005, we’ve been able to subsidize the cost of the program 100 percent [for students],” Eaton said.

But students will now have to pay $40 for the fall semester, which can be purchased starting August 10, she said.

The U-Pass will be $40 for the spring semester as well or $80 for an entire academic year, Eaton said.

For students in summer session one classes, the U-Pass will be free and valid until June 30, she said.

Starting in summer 2010, students will have to pay $25 for summer session U-Passes, she said.

For students taking summer session two classes, a $25 fee will be waived and students will just have to pay $40 for the summer session and the fall semester, Eaton said.

Students can buy the summer session two U-Passes starting June 29, and the passes are valid from July 1 to the end of the fall semester, she said.

Students not taking classes during a certain semester will not be eligible for a U-Pass during that semester, and if they already have a pass, it will be deactivated.

This is still a good deal though, Eaton said, considering it regularly costs $195 for the fall and spring semester and $125 for the summer for a semester pass from Valley Metro.

It is unknown if the U-Passes will be returning cost free in the future.
“We’re not certain what the budgets will look like moving forward,” Eaton said.

An improvement in the shuttle services should help some students save money.

The intercampus shuttle service from the West campus to Tempe campus, which is free, will now stop at the Downtown Phoenix campus beginning June 29.

“This is a really great service that we’re going to be enhancing for the students,” Eaton said.

Jessica Goodsell, an anthropology sophomore, said she uses the light rail to meet her family and go to group workout sessions.

“I think it’s unfortunate that ASU has to charge for this,” Goodsell said.

However, she said she realizes it is because of funding issues and students are still getting a good deal, considering a semester pass costs $195 and students only pay $40 per semester or $80 a year.
“That’s ridiculously cheap,” Goodsell said.

Andrea Dater, a communications senior, said she uses the light rail to commute to the Tempe campus because it’s cheaper than paying for gas and a parking pass.

She said she understands why the passes aren’t free any more but is a little disappointed.

“I can understand that they can no longer afford to give free passes to everybody,” Dater said. “I know that’s not PTS’s fault … but I really don’t think it’s fair.”

She said she is upset about the fact that PTS deactivates a student’s U-Pass if they withdraw from all classes, especially during the summer, when students may take only one class.

“If you’re not using [the U-Pass], you should get your money back,” Dater said.

She said she feels like the cost could’ve been avoided because it seems PTS makes a lot of money from tickets and parking passes.

“I’m sure they tried their best, she said. “It just feels hard when parking is so expensive,” Dater said.

Shana Dominguez, an integrative studies senior who will graduate in fall, said she took advantage of the U-Pass when she could.

“I have always used [the U-Passes] when they were provided by ASU, and ‘do my part’ by taking the bus to campus when I could,” Dominguez said in an e-mail.

She said she notices the effect the budget is having on services.

“I was told throughout my semesters [at ASU] that the U-Pass was included with the cost of tuition. Tuition has gone up; however, benefits supposedly covered in that tuition are decreasing,” Dominguez said.

Due to the cost, other forms of transportation might be more appealing.
“When weighing the alternative[s] between spending money on a bus pass or other possibilities, such as carpooling or [alternative] forms of transportation like bicycling, buying a bus pass is at the bottom of the list,” she said.

Reach the reporter at reweaver@asu.edu