Universal Pass (U-PASS) for WLU Graduate Students

In April of 2007, based on broadly demonstated student interest, the GSA held a referendum to determine if Laurier graduate students were in favour of universal bus passes (U-PASS).  The referendum was passed with a wide margin, demonstrating graduate students' commitment to sustainable transportation and to improving public transit in Kitchener-Waterloo. 

Among other benefits, the U-PASS makes it possible to reduce rent by offering better linkages to affordable housing further away from the university, allows students access to a broader range of services within the Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge, reduces fuel costs and parking fees, and provides long term benefits of reducing emissions, creating a more pedestrian friendly environment, and easing traffic congestion on and around campus.

The U-PASS costs $42 per term for both the fall and winter terms and is paid through your student fees. Though the undergraduates do not have an agreement that covers the summer term, Grand River Transit (GRT) is willing to work with the GSA to make the U-PASS available if there is a demand for this service by grad students.

In order for the GRT to offer bus passes to graduate students at a deeply discounted rate and sustain its current level of service to the community, the U-PASS agreement limits the circumstances for grads (like undergrads) to opt out of the U-PASS. Currently the GRT only allows students who are registered with MobilityPLUS and CNIB to get receive a refund of their U-PASS fees.

The Wilfrid Laurier University Student Union (WLUSU) has created a very informative website for their members. If you are interested in researching the U-PASS please follow the link to their site (http://www.wlusu.com/buspass/home.htm). Also, the GRT has created a website that addresses Laurier students' questions about their service as well as the benefits of a U-PASS to students and their community.