If the initial response to ASU's new bus pass program is any indication, Phoenix and Tempe city buses could become a bit more crowded.
ASU's Parking and Transit Services department employees gave out 461 student bus cards and 567 employee passes between July 1 and 5, said Mark Krug, a spokesman for the department. PTS officials were unable to provide more recent statistics, he said. But he added that since last Tuesday, PTS has seen fewer people dropping by to get the passes.
The bus pass program allows all eligible ASU faculty, staff and students to ride Valley Metro bus routes for free anywhere in the Valley.
Judi Nelson, senior program coordinator for PTS' travel reduction program, said the student response was "excellent," especially since PTS won't conduct any advertising campaigns to reach students until the start of the fall semester in August.
The program had been in the works for several years, but PTS was never able to get it off the ground due to lack of funding, Nelson said. They were unable to convince ASU administrators to fund a free bus pass program through a student fee tacked on to tuition charges.
"We've never been able to charge a fee like the [Student Recreation Complex] does," she said.
This year, after negotiations with Valley Metro and the cities of Tempe and Phoenix, the parties involved were able to reach a consensus on a discounted price, with PTS footing the bill. Due to the fact that it is a pilot program, the price of the bus cards already has been covered for this fiscal year, but PTS will have to acquire more sources of funding after that, Nelson said.
She added that the program's ability to continue past its first year will depend greatly on the number of bus riders.
"If the numbers aren't there, then it's not an effective program," she said.
Corinne Widmer, Undergrad-uate Student Government vice president, said the bus cards will keep money in students' wallets.
"You can pretty much go anywhere in the Valley and you can park your car and then ride the bus [to school] ... It also saves hundreds of dollars in gas costs," she said.
She added that USG plans to launch a marketing campaign to increase awareness of the bus program because student government "[wants] to inform students about the advantages of taking the bus." The initiative, which is part of a broader USG push to convince students to consider using alternative modes of transportation, is set to kick off with a large bike and skate rally on Sept. 21.
Journalism senior Dan Silen said he was glad to have the bus card because he has no other form of transportation.
"I don't have a car at the moment, so it's really rough during the summer without a vehicle ... [The bus is] my only long-distance transport," Silen said.
Students can obtain the bus cards at PTS' Decal Sales office, located at 525 E. Forest, with the presentation of a valid ASU ID card. The cards are free, but if lost, cost $25 to replace. The fall-semester bus cards last until Jan. 16.
Reach the reporter at grayson.steinberg@asu.edu.
