Pilot program will provide students with free bus passes

Capitol Metro bus trips will be free to all students attending ACC next semester. Starting Jan. 5, students can pick up their Green Passes from the cashier's office as part of a pilot program that will allow them free access to Capitol Metro services, including the Metro Rail, when it becomes operational.

$250,000 of the money raised from the higher parking fee that went into effect this semester was used to get the pilot program started. Once that money is depleted, the Green Pass will be funded by the new sustainability fee that will go into effect next semester. The sustainability fee will be $1 per credit hour and will cost students an average of $8 per semester.

"The ACC Board of Trustees brought up the idea of having the Green Pass to reduce our carbon footprint and also ease our transportation problems or issues such as parking at all campuses. This year, the Board of Trustees approved an increase of the parking fee, so they increased a portion of the parking fee that will (initially) fund the Green Pass," Director of Environmental Stewardship Andy Kim said.

Other green options for students that are being considered include the possibility of making ACC more bike friendly by installing more bike racks, adding showers for student bikers, or establishing an ACC car pool system.

"Because the increase of the parking fee is a limited fund, as the program expands, the Sustainability Fee comes in to help extend the Green Pass program, and it will also fund various sustainability issues and projects," Kim said.

Sustainability was the focus when President Steve Kinslow signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, an initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of educational institutions across the country.

The Green Pass is part of this initiative, and how long it lasts depends on how many ACC students use the bus passes during the pilot program.

Capital Metro will be keeping track of the number of ACC students using the Green Pass.

Every student enrolled in the 2010 spring semester, with the exception of Continuing Education students that do not pay the Sustainability Fee, can use the pass.

Students can use the Green Pass the first day it's issued for the spring semester.

If lost, there is a $25 replacement fee, whereas if it is damaged, it will be replaced at no cost as long as the original pass can be presented.

The pass will cover the time between semesters as well as the semester itself.

"The Green Pass works for even express buses; we wanted to make it an inclusive service to eliminate all confusion. Metro rail isn't running at this time, but this pass will work for it as well once it is in commission," Kim said.

Whether or not having the Green Pass will make students use these Metro services versus driving a car was addressed by nursing major Eunbi Park. She drives to and from every campus now and rarely rides the bus.

"I think my friends that drive would be more likely now to ride the bus, I mean why not? I would be more likely to use the bus because I can save money on gas," Park said.