Show Ed Pass I offers cheap alternative to auto travel Carli Contributing Writer Put cheap gasoline among the ranks of poodle skirts and the piano key necktie necktie- they are all a thing of the past With gas prices on the rise at a staggering rate it is becoming less affordable to rely on driving as the lone mode of tion and UTA have teamed up to offer a wise price-wise alternative in the Ed Pass Free to paying fee-paying students and 10 to paying non-fee-paying students and faculty the Ed Pass is a term long-term ticket to all forms of UTA transit The pass can be picked up at atthe atthe atthe the ID Card offices throughout campuses campuses campuses cam cam- and does not expire until Sept of 2006 Although below the nationwide average Utah gas prices still took a large leap in recent weeks According to the Energy Information Administration gas prices in inEd inEd inEd Ed Pass Cont on Page 3 i Cont from front froni the Rocky Mountain region have j jumped 67 7 cents per gallon since the begin beginning ing of Aug With the effects of Hurricane Katrina on supply and demand a significant drop in price is nowhere inthe in inthe inthe the immediate future Its percent cheaper than driving Students arent aren't paying anything They really dont don't have a direct out- out of pocket of-pocket pocket cost other than afee a afee afee fee they perhaps paid the college college college col col- lege UTA spokesperson Justin Jones said Its a good deal for students to have the Ed Pass and to use it The bus fee taken from a full time full time tuition at is 5 a semester Even the 10 that time part-time students and and staff of must pay to obtain the pass is dramatically cheaper than purchasing an all day all day or bus pass just a few times during the semester Its a lot of people paying a little bit and benefiting really everyone Jones said Hypothetically if a person uses ses just one gallon of gas to get to and from campus four days out of the week in a month he or she would be paying around four times the maximum amount an Ed Pass holder would for the entire year That is also considering considering considering con con- if gas prices stay well under 3 a gallon While the numbers would indicate that it is completely H logical for students and faculty to use public transportation only a fraction fraction fraction frac frac- tion that are offered the pass actually go get one Of the approximately people eligible to pick up an Ed Pass this semester only had done so as of Sept 20 The distribution of the pass this semester began Aug 10 when purchased from UTAI UTA I think the word has definitely definitely definitely gotten out there better this year than it did last year said Ron Wells of Redwood Campus Campus' ID Center This is something that the students have already paid for While not everyone that has the capability of taking advantage of the pass is doing so all parties agree that the program has grown in popularity at since its introduction in 2003 Feedback has been very positive So far they have been very impressed with the program and how it works said Pat Dierks a UTA representative representative representative They seem to feel its it's a very worthwhile program program program pro pro- gram for the students faculty and staff With increased along routes UTA initiated initiated ini ini- ni- ni some changes to bus lines near the Bruin campus campus- es In response to administration administration administration adminis adminis- and rider service requests routes 39 and 40 have been increased to 20 minutes intervals to the Redwood Campus Route 42 which runs past the 0 6 f J 1 w r t. t Redwood Campus as well has been interlined with Route 15 which has service to the South City Center Between the two routes students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents can get from one campus campus campus cam cam- pus to the other The Ed Pass may be used when accompanied by a school ID on or any anyUTA anyUTA anyUTA UTA bus line even when travel is not school Jones said flexibility is one of the Ed Pass' Pass best aspects and encourages pass holders to take advantage of UTA's services whenever Now I am noticing where other bus stops are I am noticing that I can get other places said student So now I Iam Iam Iam am thinking Hey there could be other transportation pos pos- UTA launched the Ed Pass program at the University of Utah in 1991 Since then it has grown to include most of the major traditional campus colleges and universities inthe inthe in inthe the Salt Lake Valley Catering to students was a logical choice for UTA Jones said Mass transit is a perfect solution for students attending attending attending attend attend- ing colleges and universities ties Jones said Where we already provided provid provid- ed services in most cases to colleges we can then just sell the capacity we have to provide that at a discounted price to students Jones added It is really creating a win-win win for both the college college college col col- col- col lege and congestion in the neighborhoods and for the students UTA welcomes questions and feedback on the Ed Pass and services offered to I Ivia via the company hotline at UTA RIDE-UTA or Ed Passes may be picked up ID Centers among campuses |