Thunder Bay students could see transit U-Pass price more than double

The Lakehead University Student Union says it has concerns about the viability of the U-Pass in the coming years.

The pass allows students to use Thunder Bay Transit, as part of their student fees.

Lakehead University Student Union President Roman Jakubowski told CBC News negotiating a new agreement is complicated. The original price for the U-Pass, eight years ago, was $70. Now, it's $95 and the proposed increase would bring it up to $220.

"They say that the program is not revenue neutral like it should be. They say that the program needs to be brought in line with what our peers are doing."

Jakubowski said transit officials told him the price needs to go up to help balance department budgets.

The city's U-Pass program remains the least expensive in the country, and helps attract young people to the city, Jakubowski noted.

Jakubowskisaid he believes a one year deal can be reached with transit, with an increase coming inatunder ten percent.

But the numbers for the long term are troubling to him.

"The initial proposals from transit were to raise the price of the U-Pass to $220, $240 the year after that, and then to $259 in the third year of the three year contract," he said.

"That would be 276 per cent of what we're paying right now. When was the last time you were asked to pay that kind of increase on any service?"

In an email to CBC News, transit manager Brad Loroff said focusing on the increase is not a complete representation of the discussions between transit and the student union.

He said no final decisions have been made, and transit is committed to the long-term viability of the U-Pass for students at both Lakehead University and Confederation College.