HYDE PARK — The University of Chicago will join the CTA’s U-Pass program in the fall, one of the last colleges in the city to sign up for the program offering unlimited rides to students.
The university in the fall will make available to students the bus pass that provides unlimited monthly rides on CTA buses and trains for a fee that’s expected to be $85 per quarter.
The pass will be free for every student receiving financial aid at the university.
The move by the university was prompted by students, who had been pressing for participation for years. A February survey by the student government found a majority of students supported joining the program.
U. of C. seemed poised to start offering U-Pass, like nearly every other university in the city, for at least the past year. It was close to implementing the program last fall, but pulled back when it couldn’t cover the costs for students on financial aid, according to the student government.
Unlike at other schools, U. of C. students jumped between university-run shuttles and two university-sponsored CTA bus lines.
The 171 and 172 routes are free for U. of C. students with a school ID, but only run during limited hours on campus.
The expansion of public transportation options for students comes as the university is cutting back on its sponsorship of CTA bus lines specifically tailored to U. of C. students, faculty and staff.
On May 27, the 170 route will be cut as ridership fell and the CTA’s rates to operate the bus for the university continued to rise. The university stopped underwriting the 173 and 174 CTA bus lines to Lakeview and Green and Red Line stations in 2011.
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