The U-Pass BC program has been extended for five years, impacting about 140,000 students at universities across Metro Vancouver, including Kwantlen Polytechnic University and the British Columbia Institute of Technology, which both have campuses in Richmond.
The announcement from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure follows students from 10 public universities and colleges in the region voting overwhelmingly in favour of extending the program and supporting a mandatory monthly fee.
Voting took place last year.
The U-Pass program, which launched in 2010, is a partnership between the province, TransLink and participating post-secondary institutions and their student associations.
Students who have a U-Pass have access to bus, SeaBus and SkyTrain services, across all zones, within Metro Vancouver, plus discounts on West Coast Express.
Post-secondary institutions participating in the U-Pass BC program include:
- University of British Columbia (UBC);
- Simon Fraser University;
- Capilano University
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University;
- Langara College;
- Douglas College;
- Vancouver Community College (including the Native Education College);
- Emily Carr University of Art and Design;
- Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (Burnaby students); and
- British Columbia Institute of Technology.
