New Metro Card Plan Proposed For Students
By Duane Paul Murphey
The Metro, the District of Columbia Beltway’s main transportation system, is on the verge of providing a Metro card program that would allow unlimited riding on the Metro rail and bus systems for Catholic University of America students and would cost about $100 per semester.
There is possible consideration for allowing students to opt out of the program if they cannot afford the semester fee or simply do not want to be involved.
“WMATA is hoping that this program would allow students to be more active in the DC area especially going for internships and spending money at local establishments,” said D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) Commissioner and freshman Politics major Isaiah Burroughs.
Burroughs proposed this potential program as a result of an idea that was previously discussed at the D.C. Student Leader Summit, and contacted Metro to obtain information. If the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority or WMATA approves the optional program, the program may be implemented by the fall semester of the 2016-2017 school year. If the proposed program is not approved by the WMATA, it can be approved by the University’s Board of Trustees, school administration, and a possible student referendum so that it can be implemented by the fall semester of the 2017-2018 school year. The approval must go through the agency’s budget and then Catholic University’s administration. The proposal must be signed by Catholic University of America President John Garvey before February 1st, in order for the Metro card program to be in effect by the start of the 2016-2017 academic year.
When asked about the proposal, Katie Troilo, a freshman Politics major spoke about the benefits of this potential opportunity.
“I think that the Metro pass program for CUA students is not only a great idea in general, but especially for students like myself who are interning multiple times a week,” said Troilo. “Commuting to and from downtown twice a week is definitely not cheap, especially for a college student. I probably spend around ten to fifteen dollars a week on transportation to and from work depending on whether or not the prices are peaked and that adds up pretty quickly.” Maximus Ebert, a freshman Politics major and undergraduate congressional intern, said, “I would like that. I spend about $12 a week as of now.”
This proposal is starting to represent or generate a significant cooperative trend between institutions of higher learning and state governments in the areas that border the city. The Maryland Transit Administration, a state run transit administration within the state’s Department of Transportation, has an All College Transit Pass which allows students attending and taking classes at Maryland area colleges, universities, community colleges, and technical schools to buy monthly passes for $50.00. This pass is available to schools who are actively participating in the program. University faculty, school staff, or school administration are not eligible to purchase a pass as it is meant for students who are enrolled in the college and are taking and attending classes. This pass can be used on the MTA’s buses, light rail, and Metro for unlimited use during an entire single month. The institutions participating in Maryland’s All Access Pass program include University of Baltimore, University of Maryland at Baltimore, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Stevenson University, Morgan State University, Coppin State College, John Hopkins University, and Towson University.
