SGA Holds Town Hall on University Metro Pass Implementation to Mixed Results

Panel members (From left to right) CUA TPS Director Jason Nicholls, CUA Assistant Vice President Timothy Carney, and SGA President Jeff Lance. Photo by Jackson Russell.

By Jackson Russell

The Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a Town Hall meeting this week on whether the Catholic University of America should join the U-Pass program, providing for unlimited Metro access to be included in the cost of attendance. The response was contentious at best.

President Jeff Lance, joined by Tim Carney, Associate Vice President of Campus Services, and Jason Nicholls, Director of the Office of Transportation and Parking Services, hosted the event on November 12, hoping to clarify any concerns or questions people may have about this program.

“We also took it as an opportunity to educate students about what the program entails,” said President Lance, “and what kind of ramifications it would have for them.”

The program, if approved by the senate, put CUA into contract with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) for at least one year starting Spring 2025. All full time CUA students, undergraduate and graduate, will be required to pay an additional fee of $250 dollars per academic year as a part of the current cost of attendance, but in return, receive unlimited access to all WMATA run services during the school semester, including both MetroRail and MetroBus.

President Lance, both in his introductory speech and during the panel discussion, also tried significantly to highlight the program to the audience at the Town Hall. 

Highlighting a survey done last Spring, he stated that most CUA students spend between $850-1000 in local transportation per year, which would be significantly decreased under this program. Along with that, he claims most undergraduate students who completed the survey were in favor of the program.

“It provides tremendous benefits,” stated President Lance, “so it’s a great opportunity for students to take advantage of.”

However, the crowd at the Town Hall seemed less convinced.

The Q&A period went on for a tense 45 minutes, during which a mixture of positive and negative responses seemed to fill Pryzbyla Great Room B.

While some openly supported the program, most also voiced their concerns about how the program will affect them. Some students voiced their lack of usage of the Metro generally, and how they felt excluded. Juniors and Seniors voiced concerns about double coverage due to job opportunities, while graduate students voiced concerns over their fellow students who commute from areas without Metro access. Along with them, multiple SGA senators gave negative comments regarding the program.

“I would say some people supported it, some people didn’t,” President Lance reflected, “and that’s okay, that’s how our university is supposed to be.” 

Despite the reaction found in today’s Town Hall, hope seems bright for this program being implemented soon. President Lance himself seemed most confident, still having confidence in the program’s support.

“I will continue to advocate for it on behalf of SGA,” said President Lance, “as it is my duty.”
The program will be voted on by the Senate by the next meeting. Regardless of the result, the CUA administration will be required to state to WMATA claiming whether or not it will join the program by the 21st. If so, they will be among the 38 schools already a part of the program, including the D.C. area universities of George Washington and American.