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Student vote needed to decide on RTD’s pass program

By Aaron Monteabaro
amonteab@mscd.edu

The extension of the student bus and light rail pass program will be determined by a vote held April 2-3 at Auraria. Students will decide whether or not to continue the benefits of the RTD program at a predetermined rate added into the total cost of tuition.

The new amount of $37 is based on the projected number of rides for the coming year and the current fare. The program accommodates the increase in RTD fares of 25 cents that took effect Jan. 1, 2008.

Last year, each student paid $32 in supplemental fees per semester for the pass.

The Student Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board manages all tri-institute fee programs, including the bus and light rail pass program, which was developed in 1995.

The current renewal was developed and approved by SACAB before bringing it to the Auraria Board. After the student vote, the referendum moves to different offices for each school, where it is approved or denied.

A final approval must come from all three institutions for the program to remain active.

SACAB representative for UCD Lia Peckman, who has been a frequent RTD pass user, said this program is an amazing deal that helps a lot of people. “To be honest, I haven’t ridden it that much this semester but I would still pay the fee,” she said. She added that $37 isn’t that much compared to what it would cost normally, even if it only helps you out once or twice

Voting places differ depending on which school the student attends. UCD students will vote at the North Classroom, students at Metro will vote at the Central Classroom and CCD students will vote at the South Classroom.

Whether the individual student government bodies side for or against the renewal of the program is mainly up to the students.

According to recent reports, in the past few years, 30 percent of Auraria students use either the bus or light rail as their primary means of transportation. Auraria students took more than 2.5 million rides per year, which is up 2.2 percent with a 7.7 percent increase in light rail usage.

Though students are facing a $37 charge for a pass every semester, regular fare for the general public in a given semester is estimated at $576.

Many students don’t even realize the vote is being held. Heather McClure said that she had seen the postings for the program but wasn’t sure when or why they were there. She uses RTD, so she would vote to keep it and hopes others do too. “I would say I would vote but I’ll probably just forget,” McClure said. In response to how she would deal without the use of the pass, she said, “I guess I’d have to drive.”

Some students are very aware of the upcoming vote and how the results could affect them. Jennifer Johnson said she rides to school every day from the DTC.

“In the morning, the light rail is filled with students, or at least half students and half people who work downtown,” Johnson said. She said if they were to vote against it, she would have to drive to school and it would cost more money.

Similar programs have been voted on in the past, and the previous vote in 2006 was a sweeping success.

That year, nearly 3,800 votes were cast in two days, 96 percent of which were in favor of the program. Similar results are expected this year, though the subject can be a little arguable, Peckman said.

Christi Walters, a student who drives to Auraria, said she didn’t realize the fees for the bus and light rail pass were added to the total tuition bill.

She said even though her mother pays her tuition, she wouldn’t mind paying the RTD fee anyway because it could come in handy in more ways than just transportation to school.

Paying $37 is pretty cheap when you think of what you get, Walters said.

“It really isn’t that bad of a deal,” she said