Winnipeg, MB - Following discussions with the University of Manitoba Students Union (UMSU) and the University of Winnipeg Students Association (UWSA), the Public Service is recommending the City provide compensation to its partners to address administration and distribution costs of the U-Pass program.
Compensation would include:
- a commission of 0.5% annually on all U-Pass fees collected;
- reimbursement of up to 50% of the implementation costs experienced by UMSU and UWSA.
“The U-Pass is an example of a cooperative effort between Winnipeg Transit and its partners to provide low-cost bus service to university students in the city,” said Councillor Marty Morantz, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure and Public Works. “This refinement to our agreement demonstrates the City’s continued commitment to the U-Pass program. Our goal is and always has been to make sure all students have the opportunity to get to university to further their educations.”
“We are happy that talks with Winnipeg Transit have been so productive, and can gladly say many of the concerns we raised last month have been addressed,” said UMSU President Tanjit Nagra. “We look forward to continuing to work with Transit in the future.”
“We applaud the City of Winnipeg for strengthening our partnership and joint commitment to the U-Pass program,” said Kevin Settee, President of the UWSA. “And we look forward to further cultivating opportunities that increase students’ accessibility to public transit.”
A 0.5% commission rate for the two partners would translate into approximately $26,000 annually for UMSU, and $7,500 annually for the UWSA, based on the number of students eligible for the U-Pass program in 2016.
It is estimated that the reimbursement of the implementation costs would be approximately $13,000 to UMSU, and $10,000 to the UWSA.
The payments to both U-Pass partners total $56,500 and can be accommodated within Transit’s 2017 operating budget.
Both UMSU and the UWSA requested compensation arrangements be considered to replace the 1% commission they are losing on the sale of post-secondary fare products. Compensation was not included in the original agreements.
The U-Pass brings substantial benefits to students at both the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg by lowering their travel costs to and from school, and encourages Transit ridership among students not only during their post-secondary education, but also following graduation by making Transit a part of their daily routine.
More information on the U-Pass program can be found here: https://info.winnipegtransit.com/en/fares/say-hello-to-peggo/u-pass/