B.C. government extends U-Pass transit program, hikes monthly rates
Credit to Author: Scott Brown| Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2020 19:32:11 +0000
The B.C. government is extending Metro Vancouver’s U-Pass student transit pass program for another five years.
The U-Pass B.C. program, which began in 2010, is a partnership between the province, TransLink, participating public post-secondary institutions and student associations that gives students unlimited access to bus, SeaBus and SkyTrain services within Metro Vancouver, as well as discounts on West Coast Express.
In 2019, U-Pass B.C. was an agenda item in referenda held by the student associations at participating institutions. The government says all 10 participating student associations voted in favour of extending the program for a five-year term and its mandatory monthly fee increase.
The current $41 monthly U-Pass rate will increase to $42.50 on May 1, with further annual increases through to May 2024, when the rate will rise to $46 for the remainder of the five-year agreement.
Metro Vancouver post-secondary institutions participating in the U-Pass program include: University of British Columbia; Simon Fraser University; Capilano University; Kwantlen Polytechnic University; Langara College; Douglas College; Vancouver Community College; Emily Carr University of Art and Design; Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and British Columbia Institute of Technology.