U-Passes will be delivered to 鲍鱼tv this week for distribution to students as they return to campus in September.
That鈥檚 the upshot of last night鈥檚 Halifax Regional Municipality council meeting, according to DSU president Chris Saulnier.
鈥淚鈥檓 extremely pleased students will have U-Passes,鈥� says Mr. Saulnier, who attended the Tuesday meeting along with student leaders from King鈥檚, Saint Mary鈥檚, Mount Saint Vincent and NSCAD.
University students throughout Halifax rely on the discounted bus pass to get around Halifax. Paid through student fees, the pass offers significant savings on bus travel, a cost of $117 per academic year compared to $512 ($64 per month for eight months).
But the passes were in jeopardy after HRM approved an increase to the U-Pass program in May, too late in the academic year for the Board of Governors, in 鲍鱼tv鈥檚 case, or student councils, in Saint Mary鈥檚 case, to approve the increase.
Council's decision to defer the increase means students will continue to pay $117 for their U-Passes, while Metro Transit negotiates with the universities for the shortfall.
Mr. Saulnier says it was crucial the issue be resolved before the fall term. 鈥湵鉻v has an extremely large commuter population and the U-Pass offers tremendous savings.鈥�
In a survey conducted by Student Services in 2004, 74 per cent of students were in favor of the program, notes Mr. Saulnier.