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WMATA unlimited ride "U-Pass" program


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 05 July 2016 - 10:09 PM

WMATA news release, 7/5/16:

 

Metro GM announces American University first to pilot unlimited bus and rail University Pass

 

Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld today announced that American University (AU) will be the first in this region to adopt Metro’s University Pass (U•Pass) this fall, providing students with unlimited riding privileges on Metrobus and Metrorail at a substantially discounted price.

 

All full-time undergraduate, graduate and law students at AU will receive the U•Pass. The student pass is a pilot for Metro – one of many innovative projects included in the General Manager’s Customer Accountability Report (CARe) plan which is updated monthly on wmata.com.  While the new program will generate about $2.7 million for the current fiscal year, at about $1 a day for each student during the semester, the U•Pass offers an affordable transportation option for students to travel throughout the region for classes, internships, jobs and other activities.

 

“This is an important partnership that enables Metro to better serve the region’s universities, build ridership in the near term and encourage the next generation to become public transit users,” said Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Paul J. Wiedefeld.  “I appreciate AU’s leadership, students, and administrative teams for pioneering this program with us.”

 

WMATA’s Board of Directors approved the one-year pilot in March. AU embraced the concept from the start and won overwhelming approval from the student body in a vote last year.  

 

"U-Pass makes it easy for students to engage with the Washington, D.C. community and promotes American University's mission to use our nation's capital as a powerful laboratory for learning,” said American University President Cornelius M. Kerwin. “It also helps fulfill our commitment to help ease the region's traffic congestion by encouraging the use of public transit and removing vehicles from our roadways." 

 

Students will receive a specially designed U•Pass SmarTrip card with the AU logo. The pass will be administered by the university as part of their student benefits and will be financial aid eligible. Student cards will be issued at the beginning of the academic year, fully loaded and ready to tap and go anywhere in the Metro system.

 

More than 10,000 AU students will benefit from the U•Pass. Use of the pass is unlimited for trips taken on both Metrorail and Metrobus, but does not apply to transit services offered by local jurisdictions during the pilot.  

 

The pilot will be evaluated at the end of the first year, at which time any changes to the program may be made based on actual customer experience.  Metro expects the pilot to attract other colleges and universities in the region that have expressed interest.  

 

Several transit agencies across the country have similar student pass programs including, MARTA in Atlanta, CTA in Chicago and SEPTA in Philadelphia.

 



#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 20 March 2017 - 04:28 PM

WTOP radio 3/20/17:
 

More college students to get unlimited Metro rides

 

 

WASHINGTON — A special discounted unlimited Metro pass for college students could expand across the D.C. area this fall.

 

The Metro Board is set to vote Thursday to extend the University Pass pilot program through June 2018 with the hope more schools will sign on.

 

Documents made available ahead of the meeting show American University students have taken more than 1 million rides on Metro trains and buses since the program launched last fall.

 

SNIP

 

Metro hopes to use the usage data from the longer period to figure out whether the $1 per day price is set correctly before a decision next spring on whether to make the pass permanent.

 

More here.



#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 11:49 AM

WMATA news release, 3/28:

 
Metro Board extends successful University Pass Program

The Metro Board of Directors voted unanimously last week to extend the successful University Pass Program through June 2018.

The program currently benefits more than 10,000 American University and Washington College of Law students by providing unlimited riding privileges on Metrobus and Metrorail at a substantially discounted price.

At about $1 per student per day, Metro's U-Pass offers an affordable transportation option for students to travel throughout the region for classes, internships, jobs and other activities. In the program's first year, over a million Metro rides were taken by American University students using the U-Pass.

"We are thrilled to have American University on board as the U-Pass program's first participant," said Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Paul J. Wiedefeld. "In addition to increased student use on Metro, the U-Pass program helps to promote public transportation and attract a future generation of riders."

"A successful partnership serves students well and U-Pass has served our students well," said American University President Cornelius M. Kerwin. "The feedback from students indicates that U-Pass has not only saved them money but helped them explore the city, adding to their AU experience. I am pleased that the program has had such a positive impact on our students."

 

"I would not have been able to travel outside of Tenleytown, let alone the entire District, without the low cost of the U-Pass,” said Elena Herfi, master of arts candidate in Public Anthropology at American University. “Being able to attend events, network, and utilize the many resources throughout the DMV without breaking the bank on transportation costs has made a huge impact on my experience as a student at AU.”

 

Metrorail U-Pass ridership was highest along the Red Line with the greatest ridership traveling to or from Tenleytown, Van Ness, Friendship Heights, Dupont Circle, and Woodley Park stations. Metrobus ridership in the Tenleytown area has increased by about ten percent vs the previous year, with 60 percent of U-Pass rides taken during off-peak periods when capacity is available.

The U-Pass program is available to any accredited college or university in the Metro service area. Metro staff is continuing outreach and providing information to school administrators throughout the region. The decision to participate is made by each university community.

Metro expects to receive $2.7 million in revenue from the program this fiscal year.

 

 



#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 17 April 2017 - 06:11 AM

WMATA news release 4/14:

 
Metro invites college students, staff to learn about University Pass Program Pilot

 

Metro will host a lunchtime information session Friday, April 21, for college students and staff who want to learn more about Metro's new University Pass Program, commonly known as "UPass."

 

For about $1 per student per day, UPass gives full-time college attendees convenient, unlimited Metrobus and Metrorail access to travel to and from campus, internships, jobs and activities. UPass can be marketed by universities as a benefit for full-time students that extends the college experience beyond campus.

 

Metro successfully piloted UPass last year at American University and Washington College of Law across a population of about 10,000 students. Following recent approval by the Metro Board of Directors to continue the program next year, Metro will offer UPass to any accredited college or university in the Metro service area that wishes to participate and agrees to the terms of the program.

 

Students and university professionals interested in learning more about UPass are invited to join Metro for a "Lunch and Learn" event on Friday, April 21, from noon until 2:00 p.m. at Metro Headquarters, 600 Fifth Street NW, Washington, DC. 

 

Space is limited. Please RSVP by registering here.

 

WHEN:

Friday, April, 21, 2017
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

 

WHERE:

Metro Headquarters
600 Fifth Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
(via Metrorail: Gallery Place or Judiciary Square)

 



#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 30 April 2017 - 07:13 AM

4/28/17:

 



#6 CNJRoss

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Posted 17 August 2017 - 06:57 PM

WMATA news release, 8/17/17:

 
Metro partners with Carnegie Mellon on University Pass Program

 

Metro today announced that Carnegie Mellon University Heinz College is the newest university to benefit from Metro's University Pass program, providing students with safe and affordable transportation.

U-Pass allows students unlimited riding privileges on Metrobus and Metrorail at a substantially discounted price.

At Carnegie Mellon University Heinz College, students have a valuable opportunity to take public policy courses while holding apprenticeships in Washington, DC. Metro's U-Pass offers an affordable option to travel between classes, internships, jobs and other activities for about $1 per student per day.

"We are excited to welcome Carnegie Mellon to our successful U-Pass program," said Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Paul J. Wiedefeld. "Students who are studying and working in the nation's capital deserve safe and affordable travel to help fulfill their ambitions and launch their careers."

 

In March, Metro's Board of Directors voted unanimously to extend the successful U-Pass program for a second year through June 2018. 

"We are thrilled to be partnering with the DC Metro U-Pass program this coming year to provide a convenient and cost saving transportation option to our Carnegie Mellon University/Heinz College Washington DC students," said Marie Farrell Coleman Executive Director, Heinz College. "Our grad students – aspiring public interest leaders who are living, working and studying in DC this year – will benefit greatly from the opportunity to travel throughout the district using U-Pass."

 

Carnegie Mellon joins American University and Washington College of Law, the first university to launch the U-Pass program on campus last year.

 

The U-Pass program is available to any accredited college or university in the Metro service area. The decision to participate is made by each university community.

 

Last year, more than 10,000 AU and Washington College of Law students took 1.5 million rides on Metrorail and Metrobus through the U-Pass program.

 



#7 CNJRoss

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Posted 22 January 2018 - 05:11 PM

WMATA news release:

 

Nine additional schools join Metro's University Pass Program

 

 

Metro today announced nine new schools are joining Metro's University Pass program for the Spring 2018 semester.

 

U·Pass is now available to students enrolled in the Washington, D.C. programs at the following nine schools:

  • Boston University
  • Maxwell School of Syracuse University
  • Wake Forest University
  • University of Colorado-Boulder
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Carnegie Mellon University's Institute for Politics and Strategy
  • Calvin College
  • Lutheran College
  • Hope College 

At about $1 per student per day, Metro's U·Pass offers an affordable transportation option for students to travel throughout the region for classes, internships, jobs and other activities.

 
Since the U·Pass program began in August 2016, students from American University, Washington College of Law and Carnegie Mellon University/Heinz College have taken more than 2.2 million rides on Metrorail and Metrobus using U·Pass.
 

The U·Pass program is available to any accredited college or university in the Metro service area. The decision to participate is made by each university community. 

 

See how Metro's U·Pass benefits students!

 

We tag along with American University student Kris Schneider as he rides Metro on a typical day and watch the savings add up.

 



#8 CNJRoss

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Posted 26 April 2018 - 07:11 AM

WTOP radio 4/26/18:
 

Metro aims to enroll all area universities in discount pass program

 

 

WASHINGTON — The Metro Board on Thursday morning will take steps to expand the UPass program, which means college students across the region could get discounted rides if their school requires all students to pay for the semester-long passes.

 

“Metro’s goal is to enroll every college and university in this region,” Metro Chief Financial Officer Dennis Anosike said earlier this month.

 

SNIP

 

Metro must reach agreements with each school, and with local bus systems beyond the trains and buses operated by Metro, to make the pass truly regional. Like other regional transit passes, the money would be shared with the local bus systems where the passes are used.

 

Continue here.



#9 CNJRoss

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Posted 06 November 2021 - 07:30 AM

WMATA press release

 
For immediate release: November 5, 2021
 

Metro's U-Pass coming to students at George Washington University

 

GW_smartrip_UPass_Final_2.jpg

 

 

Metro today announced an agreement with George Washington University (GW) that will bring U-Pass to the school’s full-time students. With U-Pass GW students will have access to unlimited rides on Metrorail and Metrobus during the academic year at a significant discount beginning Spring semester.

 

The U-Pass will launch with a free trial by GW for all full-time undergraduate, graduate and professional (law and medical) students from December 1 through December 22. Additional information will be provided to students in the coming weeks about obtaining their U-Pass SmarTrip® card for the Spring semester, including details about associated student fees.

 

“We welcome GW to the U-Pass program, connecting students to opportunities across the region with an affordable, sustainable transportation option,” said Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. “We appreciate the work of university leaders, students and the administration in seeing the value and benefits of transit for the GWU community.”

 

“Our students made a compelling case about the importance of providing access to an affordable transportation option, whether to travel to and from campus and internships or to explore more of the nation’s capital and greater region,” GW President Thomas LeBlanc said. “Joining U-Pass is an important opportunity to enhance the student experience.”

 

Students will receive a specially designed U-Pass featuring the school’s primary logo over the GW monogram. At $1 a day for each student during the semester, U-Pass will allow students to take Metro to jobs, internships and other activities across the District, Maryland and Virginia. From GW it’s easy to take the train to and from the Foggy Bottom Station in the heart of campus, or hop on one of the many Metrobus routes nearby.

 

GW will become the largest university in the U-Pass program. The partnership is expected to generate additional revenue for Metro and help build ridership with new transit users.

 

Metro began the U-Pass Program in Fall 2016, starting with American University and has since expanded to 26 colleges and universities in the DC region. For additional information and a list of participating school go to wmata.com/U-Pass.

 

 






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