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Mandatory RTA passes come under criticism
Elizabeth Zheng
Assistant News Editor
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Four years after the creation of the U-Pass initiative, which gives all undergraduate students unlimited rides on local buses and trains through the mandatory purchase of a $25 pass, Case’s Undergraduate Student Government is taking a second look at the program.
In a survey conducted by USG, it was found that of the 300 students surveyed, 75 percent believed that the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) passes should not be mandatory for all students. Although RTA officials say ridership has increased throughout the years, 87 percent of the students surveyed have ridden the RTA less than 18 times and a third of the RTA passes for this semester were never claimed by students.
“It’s obvious that students are unhappy with the RTA passes but USG is currently working with RTA to promote and enhance the benefits of the pass,” VP of Development Ashraf Sabe said.
The RTA U-Pass program was initially created in 2000 in an effort to connect Case students to the city of Cleveland. Modeled after the mass transit programs from schools like Boston University and the University of Chicago, Case’s program served to provide students with an inexpensive and convenient mode of transportation.
A survey was then launched and the results indicated that the majority of Case students were in favor of the program.
“At the time, the Flats were a lot more attractive and students wanted to get out more, so there was a huge interest for RTA passes,” Sabe said. A deal was then struck with RTA and the passes were soon implemented. All students would be charged a discounted rate for $25 per semester for the passes instead of the $150 retail value.
In return for the payments, RTA would provide passes with unlimited rides for all students and would market and promote the new program with advertisements and resources for students. However, lack of communication since then has left some of the original goals of the program unfinished. Unhappy students also started complaining to USG about the mandatory payment for RTA passes and questioned its effectiveness and value.
“Because I have a car, I haven’t picked up my RTA pass for the past three semesters. So for people who don’t even use it, the pass should not be mandatory. However, I can see the benefits the pass has for people who don’t have a car and need the RTA to get around,” junior Michelle Hu said.
According to the USG general assembly minutes, an open forum regarding the RTA pass issue was held on Oct. 15, 2002, in which USG members voiced their concerns to an RTA representative. Members suggested that events and attractions around Cleveland should be publicized so that students would be more inclined to get involved with the city. Another suggestion was made for RTA to create pamphlets so that the routes would be easier for students to understand. A proposal was also made for the RTA pass to work as a type of discount card to benefit the students who did not use the pass.
“Basically, there were many things that needed to be worked out and RTA didn’t do many of the things that they initially agreed to do,” Sabe said.
The program’s unpopular status, some USG members believe, can be attributed to intermittent communication between USG and RTA. Concerns were voiced once again to RTA, and USG is planning to investigate the issue more next year.
“Next year, an RTA task force will be established and we will be working with RTA to actually make things happen this time,” current VP of Academic Affairs and future USG president Taroon Amin said. “We would like to add more value to the pass, diversify its usage, and really promote its benefits.”
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