College Student Transit Pass Programs Zihao Jin, Dahai Han, Weijie Tan

Introduction different funding fare and operating structures Many transit agencies currently have student pass programs with colleges and universities. different funding U-Pass program fare and operating structures student demographics The concept of fare-free public transit has been considered and implemented in the United States since at least the 1960s. U-Pass is perhaps the fastest growing type of fare-free service because of the large numbers of students and staff who usually brings huge traffic demand and parking problems

What is a U-Pass? provides unlimited usage of buses College Student Transit Pass Program, known as a U-Pass or unlimited access program. provides unlimited usage of buses by certain transit service providers Faculty and staff are also covered in some cases. for all students enrolled at the college

survey Objects : 27 agencies 31 institutions Respondents: 20 agencies 21 institutions The agencies responding to the survey serve populations ranging from 45,688 in Stillwater, OK, to 12,150,996 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA in across the North American. The institutions are about equally divided as four enrollment categories: no more than 20,000 students 5 institutions 20,001 to 30,000 students 5 institutions 30,001 to 45,000 students 6 institutions 45,001 or more students 4 institutions

Survey Results : The final scope of the cross sectional survey results answered following questions: Project characteristics Attitudes of institution, students and transit agency towards program Impacts of program on institution, students and transit agency Financial aspects of the program Potential barriers to implementation

Results Example : Project characteristics Primary Advocator/Initiator of the Program FIGURE 1 THE LEAD ROLE IN THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT (RESLUTS FROM AGENCIES) FIGURE 2 THE LEAD ROLE IN THE DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT (RESLUTS FROM INSTITUTIONS)

Benefits OF U-PASS To the agency To the Institution Provides a stable source of income( U-Pass revenues ) Higher ridership especially in poor-performing period Maximize the use of buses Develops life-long habits for students to take transit To the Institution Reduces existing and unmet parking demand Reduces future growth in parking demand Enables use of land for buildings or green space Increases “town-gown” integration

Benefits OF U-PASS To Students To the Community Reduced or free access to transit Rewards existing riders, attracts new ones Improved transit services designed to meet student needs Easier for students in residence to explore the area To the Community Reduces traffic congestion Increases transit ridership Less illegal parking in residential areas around campus Increases transit frequency within the area

Contribution Reflects the relationship established between agencies and universities. Documents current state of the practice. Provides examples to universities and transit agencies for reference

Future research Organizing and analyzing the survey results. Five pairs of institution and transit agency from 7 candidates below will be selected to conduct case study. Transit System Institution Washington, D.C. Washington DC Metro American University Los Angeles, CA LA Metro University of California at LA Seattle, WA King County Metro Transit University of Washington at Seattle   Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee County Transit System University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Austin, TX Capital Metro University of Texas-Austin Blacksburg, VA Blacksburg Transit Virginia Tech University Stillwater, OK OSU-Stillwater Community Transit Oklahoma State University