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POSTED: Wednesday, Jul. 08, 2009

WWU students won't pay more for bus passes, but university will

BELLINGHAM - Western Washington University students will not see an increase next year in the transportation fee they pay nor will they have their late-night shuttle service cut, a university spokesman said.

According to a draft deal between the university and Whatcom Transportation Authority, the university will pay about 25 percent more over the next three years for prepaid bus passes for students. The money will come from reserves.

WTA on Monday, July 6, made public a tentative deal on how much money the university would pay for the passes, which have helped drive bus ridership to record highs.

In spring 2007, more than 80 percent of student voters approved a $25-a-term transportation fee. Most of that went to a universal bus pass, but some also went to late-night shuttle service.

Earlier this year, WTA's board of directors voted to increase fares across the board, hoping to stave off cuts in service as tax revenues faltered. WTA staff wanted the university to pay the same increase as most other bus users - 25 percent. But at one point, it appeared the future of the passes was in doubt because officials from both sides couldn't agree on how much to pay for them, records obtained through a public disclosure request show.

Then on June 10, WTA and WWU announced they had a tentative deal, but they wouldn't comment on details of it.

Now, WWU spokesman Paul Cocke said the university will dip into transportation fund reserves to help pay the increased amount, and it won't increase the student fee or cut late-night shuttle service.

During this last academic year, the university paid a total of $561,928 for the passes, according to a letter from WTA General Manager Richard Walsh to WWU officials.

The increase would be spread over the next three years. Here's what WWU would pay under the draft deal:

• For the 2009-10 school year, it would pay $606,527, an 8 percent increase over last year.

• For 2010-11, it would pay $660,043, a 9 percent increase over the previous year.

• For 2011-12, it would pay $731,844, an 11 percent increase over the previous year.

The third year also reflects an additional 3 percent increase because the university expects to have more students enrolled, which means they'll generate more transportation fee money, according to a WTA staff report.

ATTEND THE MEETING

What: The Whatcom Transportation Authority's executive committee will discuss a proposed contract with Western Washington University for prepaid student bus passes. The committee will make a recommendation to the full board on whether to approve it. The full board meets the following week.

When: 8 a.m. Thursday, July 9.

Where: WTA administrative offices, 4111 Bakerview Spur Road, Bellingham.