In the near future, students might be able to hop on a bus and travel anywhere on campus they want - without worrying about paying.
ASMSU’s Academic Assembly is working to develop a transportation tax that each student would pay to ride the Capitol Area Transportation Authority buses - much like the taxes students pay each semester for services provided by ASMSU, the Residence Halls Association and The State News.
Adam Raezler, James Madison representative for the undergraduate student government’s Academic Assembly, said the tax won’t come easily, but he has hopes of it happening by the 2004-05 school year.
“This is just a great service for students,” he said. “What we see it as in Academic Assembly is a big convenience. Everyone in this university uses the CATA buses at least once.”
Raezler said the idea came about from conversations with other Big Ten universities that have already implemented either a tax or a fee tacked onto the school’s tuition. Within the next two weeks, Raezler said he expects to have a plan ready for developing a tax or fee for CATA.
“We hope this will ultimately improve CATA sales,” he said. “It might expand CATA to new areas. Hopefully, this will decrease parking on campus. The reason most students bring cars is for the enjoyment on the weekends.”
Raezler also said some students complain about the price of bus passes, which are $45 per semester or $14 per month for students. The route system is also of some concern, he said, because some students think the bus drivers favor the areas around Brody Complex and Akers Hall over the southern campus stops.
Elizabeth Rabaut, a business and marketing freshman, said she thinks more students would ride the bus if a tax was added.
“It’s cheaper and its another way of transportation and you don’t have to worry about it, because it’s included.”
CATA Executive Director Sandy Draggoo said she hasn’t discussed the idea with members of ASMSU, but the system is working sufficiently now.
“Our goal is to carry as many rides as we can and to serve the MSU campus,” she said.
Sarah Boot, president of the Michigan Student Assembly, the University of Michigan’s student government, said she’s unsure all students will use the bus system even if they pay the tax. U-M’s on-campus transportation system is funded through the university’s general fund.
“It’s not that much money,” she said. “It helps reduce parking on campus, but if you had a car, why would you wait 10 minutes for a bus?”
