Chilliwack got on board with the U-pass program, giving University of the Fraser Valley students universal access to public transit in Chilliwack, Abbotsford or Mission for $40.

"We're going ahead with it," said Mayor Sharon Gaetz.

Council asked to its staff last fall to investigate how to make the city's participation in the program "revenue neutral" or cost-free for the city, and they managed to find a way, she said.

Gaetz said Chilliwack currently sells about $50,000 in transit passes annually, and that figure is expected to rise to $80,000 with the introduction of the U-pass.

It will likely increase local ridership substantially by providing affordable transit access in a way they never had before.

"They'll be able to ride the bus in an unlimited fashion with the pass, which will be so good for them," said Gaetz.

She was impressed that UFV students initiated and won a referendum on the idea to charge a flat $40 in student fees for the universal bus pass. They came to council with the idea before the election.

"They wanted to be able to offer affordable transit and find a way to do it in an earth-friendly way," she said.

The objectives of the program include providing lower-cost transportation, easing traffic congestion, reducing auto dependence, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing public transit ridership.

BC Transit entered into a U-pass partnership with UFV, the student society and the three municipalities. Of the total $40 in fees collected, $30 of it will go to the three participating local governments, with $5 each to Mission and Abbotsford for recreational facilities and $5 to UFV Student Union Society to administer the program.

"It would be very expensive to buy all separate passes," added Gaetz. "Many students can't yet afford cars, and are trying to finance their way through university."

Although there is no bus link yet between Chilliwack and Abbotsford campuses, that may one day become a reality, she said. It depends on the outcome of a $400,000 regional transit study being conducted.

"Hopefully we'll be able to look at some routes to connect the various regions," she said.

jfeinberg@theprogress.com