One year free transportation

UTA is about to find out what faculty, staff and students will do with a year of free UTA busses and TRAX services for free.

In effect Aug. 1, 2003 until July 31, 2004, a federal grant from Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds has provided WSU with one year of UTA's Education (Ed) Pass program.

The EdPass allows WSU faculty, staff and students to use their school ID cards in place of what would normally cost faculty and staff $45 a month and students $33 a month to ride UTA buses and TRAX light rail

"I look at it like a $45 a month raise," said WSU foreign language professor Cheryl Hansen.

Although Hansen has an "A" parking pass that allows her to park anywhere on campus she still has a hard time finding a parking place. For this reason, and for the safety, ecological and environmental impacts it has on this campus, Hansen said she chooses to ride the bus to WSU almost everyday.

"I've been working towards this (EdPass) for 12 years and I am so happy to see it," Hansen said.

She is worried that people are not aware of the EdPass and don't realize how simple it is to use.

Cassidy Mellor WSU sophomore rides the TRAX from Midvale for a half hour, then connects to the UTA bus for an hour-and-a-half ride that brings her to WSU.

"I heard rumors about the EdPass starting at WSU," Mellor said. "I've seen some students get on and pay."

She said that she saw a man enter the bus wearing a WSU baseball cap who paid $1.25 for his ride.

Hansen said her main concern is that at the end of the one-year trial period, WSU administration will look at how many people took advantage of riding the bus to school, and then decide whether or not it is worth finding the funds to continue the program.

"Where does Weber State stand on this? Do we want to keep this going?," Hansen said.

She said there would be more advertising to inform people about the pass. That is just what Kent Jorgenson, a regional marketing specialist plans to do.

Jorgenson has a display about the UTA and the EdPass inside the Union Building, next to the bookstore. He has a map showing the bus routes and promotional items to give away. His goal is to change the minds of the students who think riding the bus is not cool or the thing to do.

"Why not take advantage of something free and it is free for only one year?," Jorgenson said.

Jorgenson will also be promoting the EdPass during the Wild Weber Fest which will be held Thursday morning and Friday evening at the Bell Tower. Channel 9, the community access channel will be running an advertisement featuring WSU's Student Body President Kyle Poll, and Vice President Addy Hall. In the commercial they are on campus taking a poll to see what WSU students choose to do with their school ID's.

For more information on UTA route schedules visit rideuta.com

You can reach reporter Heather Hunt-Wood by calling 626-7655.