News - Local News

POSTED: Thursday, Jul. 09, 2009

WTA board members support WWU bus pass deal

A majority of Whatcom Transportation Authority leaders like a proposed deal that would require Western Washington University to pay about 25 percent more for prepaid student bus passes.

The increase would be spread over the next three academic years.

The WTA board's executive committee discussed the proposed deal Thursday, July 9, and voted to recommend that the full board approve it. Five members of the committee, who make up more than half of the board, voted in favor of the deal, and another member expressed support but was absent for the vote.

WWU students pay a $25-a-term transportation fee, and much of that money goes to buying universal bus passes, but some goes to a separate late-night shuttle service. WTA's board earlier this year voted to increase fares across the board, hoping to stave off cuts to service as sales tax revenues drop. For example, in the first six months of this year, WTA took in $8.75 million, which is 10 percent less than it collected the first six months of last year.

The fare for most riders will increase by 25 percent starting in October, and WTA wanted the university to pay an equivalent increase.

The deal with WWU would continue the universal pass program, which began in 2007 and has been partially responsible for bus ridership gains. Over the three years, the university would pay roughly a 25 percent increase. The university will dip into transportation fee reserve funds to pay the higher amount, and officials won't increase the student fee overall or cut late-night shuttle service.

"Western and the students had a very strong interest in trying to not have big one-time jumps in their costs," said Rick Nicholson, WTA's director of service development. "They were interested in seeing this increase smoothed out in the course of three years."

Board members gave the deal a thumbs up with little discussion.

"We all realize how important this program was to Western students," said Morgan Holmgren, vice president for governmental affairs at WWU's student government.

WTA FULL VOTE

What: The full Whatcom Transportation Authority board will consider a deal with Western Washington University on how much the university pays for student bus passes. The board will decide whether to authorize the WTA general manager to sign the contract.

When: 8 a.m. Thursday, July 16.

Where: County Council Chambers, 311 Grand Ave. in Bellingham.