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News

Metro to lower fee for student riders

New student card will replace UPASS system and offer participants 
a 50 percent discount

by JAMAICA NEGRETE
The Daily Cougar

A new plan will change Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority's current UPASS to a student card, which will offer 50 percent off the current price beginning Dec. 15.

"Metro is introducing a new fare system that will be faster, simpler and fairer for all passengers," Raquel Roberts, Metro's director of media relations, said. "This includes reducing the number of passes we offer from more than 60 to just three."

The new student card will still enable students to not only ride to UH, but other colleges such as UH-Downtown, Texas School of Business and Remington College and local Houston venues such as Minute Maid Park.

The old UPASS cost was $22 for the fall semester.

"Every college student, whether their university offers a UPASS or not, benefits from the 50 percent reductions fares," Roberts said. 

"Metro has actually been talking about problems without fare structure since June," Roberts said. 

"We have spent the intervening months developing the best solutions."

Metro has not changed its fare prices in 12 years. 

The board not only approved the new student card, but also other plans for everyday riders. 

New plans will keep the base fare at $1 and introduce student and "smart" cards, and incentive programs will replace some discounts.

One incentive offers five free rides for every 50 trips with the discount pass. 

Students and disabled riders will get the largest discount with 50 percent off all day.

According to Metro's Web site, ridership revenue has not been able to keep up with rising fuel costs and inflation.

The proposed changes are necessary to protect and expand service, Metro President Frank Wilson said in a September release.

Roberts said the new students passes will bring discounts to a larger portion of the student population.

"About 8,500 students have participated in the UPASS program and the new fare system will offer a 50 percent discount to 122,000 students who had no such discount under the old fare system," Roberts said.

Students with a current UPASS will still be able to use it until its expiration date.

Metro will design a campaign to distribute its new fare items, including a student ID, in early February.

For more information on the new student pass visit www.ridemetro.org.

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