Students at the University of Windsor are getting a universal bus pass.
A referendum on the issue of giving students the pass while charging an annual fee saw the 'Yes' side win with 1706 votes to the 1329 on the 'No' side.
Transit Windsor Executive Director Pat Delmore is ecstatic at the result.
"It's going to give opportunities for students to live outside of the university corridor and increase travel right around the city," saus Delmore. "It's going to make the transit system in this city much better for everybody."
Delmore says meetings will need be set right away to iron out the details of implementing the new bus pass — going by the name of UPass.
"A UPass makes such a difference for the university students. It makes a difference for the community and it's going to make Windsor a better place. I'm really excited," says Delmore.
The bus pass is set to cost between $130 and $170. A monthly bus pass for a student is $60.
Students living outside of the city will be able to opt-out of the fee and forgo the bus pass.
Jaydee Tarpeh, president of the University of Windsor Students' Alliance, is confident concerns the transit service isn't up to snuff will be largely erased once more students take the bus.
"The increase in ridership actually improves the bus system. I absolutely stand by that and I know Transit Windsor will do its best to improve," says Tarpeh.
The UPass deal will also see new routes added with a bus going between the university and the train station on Friday and Sunday nights and a late night bus going downtown on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
