A plan by the mayor’s transportation committee for an added student fee to support improved public transportation in Athens met cautious support during last night’s Ohio University Student Senate meeting.
Off-Campus Life Commissioner Bradley Evans facilitated the discussion about the potential plan, which would potentially charge OU students an additional fee of about $10 per quarter but allow them unlimited access to the city’s buses for free.
“I think it would be very beneficial … especially for international students and people who don’t have a car on campus,” he said.
Students and residents can ride the buses now for $1.50 each way or purchase passes. One-year passes cost students $160. The buses run three routes from Uptown: to The Plains, down Richland Avenue and to East State Street. They run their routes every hour until 6:50 p.m. weekdays and 4:50 p.m. weekends.
Isaac Smith, a candidate for Honors Tutorial College senator on the FACE ticket, said he would prefer the plan if the bus service were expanded.
“It needs to be more frequent,” he said, adding that students walking to East State Street are in danger of heat-related injuries during the summer.
Smith also said the city should look into getting more buses, especially those that are more efficient.
Some senators agreed the plan is good in theory, but would prefer it be an optional fee.
“I think we get into a very sticky situation where we begin to … put more burden on the students,” he said, adding that students are already facing higher
costs with tuition likely increasing next year.
However, Smith and others said the benefits would outweigh the cost.
“I certainly really can’t afford right now $50 to fill up my gas tank,” at-large Senator Liz Herron said, adding that she would definitely opt into the program if she had the choice.
Smith said he already pays to ride the bus occasionally and would pay the $10 if the option were available.
“I’d be willing to pay $30 a quarter for this,” he said.
The transportation committee’s goal is to propose the plan to Mayor Paul Wiehl by May, Evans said.
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