THUNDER BAY -- Transit wants to double the price of its universal bus pass system next year, says the president of Lakehead University's student union.
The uPass system was set up in 2007. Every student paid $70 for a bus pass whether they rode the bus or not.
The university student, along with Confederation College's union, were able to use its collective buying power to drive the cost of a bus pass down.
This year the price is $95, which nets around $1 million for transit each year between the two student unions. But next year transit has proposed that fee jump to $222 and $258.40 by the end of the three-year contract. LUSU president Roman Jakubowski said it's an impossible increase to swallow for student fees.
What they're asking for is impossible and because it's so impossible I'm confident it won't happen," he said.
"We are not opposed to increases but we do ask that the increases be reasonable."
LUSU recently met with mayor Keith Hobbs about the issue and are heading to city council Dec. 7.
"We feel if council was made aware of what's going on they would probably take our side," Jakubowski said.
The student union will continue to negotiate with transit. If a solution can't be reached, students using transit would have to pay between $64.50 and $75 a month.
"Our most vulnerable students are going to be asked to pay more if we lose the uPass deal," Jakubowski said.
With negotiations ongoing city transit manager Brad Loroff declined comment other than to say the prices are in no way final and transit is committed to making a deal.
