D.C. Area Universities Petition Metro for Student Rates

By Connect Mason Reporter Edwin Mora.

In an effort to reduce metro fares for college students, George Mason University’s student body president has joined forces with student leaders from 10 District of Columbia area universities.

A letter, signed by student presidents of 11 universities including Mason’ Drew Shelnutt, will be presented on Feb. 6 to the Riders Association Council at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board of directors meeting.

“We represent over 145,000 full-time and part-time collegiate students who have made a conscious decision to study in the DC metropolitan area,” the letter states. “We encourage WMATA to support a student discount.”

The letter aims to work with WMATA administrators to come up with an agreement on a student rate. “At this point is no longer just a George Washington effort, it’s a collaboration of the 11 schools,” says George Washington University sophomore Kyle Boyer, student association assistant vice president of community affairs. “As college students, we’re limited in our funding.”

Ajima Olaghere, a graduate student who uses the Metro to commute from Maryland to Mason for classes, says it’s a good idea to reduce Metro fare for students. “Metro is relatively expensive for public transportation,” says Olaghere, who spends an average of $5 a day on Metro fare. “As a student I have limited income.”

Besides Mason Student Body President Shelnutt, student presidents from American University, The Catholic University of America, Georgetown, George Washington, Howard, Marymount, and University of the District of Columbia, University of Maryland, Southeastern, and Trinity also signed the letter.

Going to the RAC is the latest attempt by the universities’ coalition to get discounted metro train fares for college students in the metropolitan area. “The boards of directors have the last word on metro fare issues,” says Steven Taubenkibel, a WMATA public affairs specialist.

Elementary and secondary school students of the D.C. area are already provided with a discount. They get a flat-rate $26 card that is valid for unlimited use for one month. According to the WMATA website, with the pass, they’re able to travel on Metrobus and Metrorail for school or school-related events. “It seems logical to expand this program to the college students in the D.C. metropolitan area,” reads the letter.

The RAC meeting, hosted by WMATA board of directors, will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Jackson Graham Building in D.C. where student presidents of the 11 universities are expected to attend.

Image courtesy of Flickr's "Daquella Manera" and Creative Commons.