UC San Diego Student Transportation Fee Referendum 

Winter 2025 Special Election: The current Student Transportation Fee was established by students in 2014 and renewed in 2018 to fund the U-Pass program, providing fee-paying students a transit pass for unlimited rides on all San Diego region fixed-route bus, trolley and light rail routes operated by the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and the North County Transit District (NCTD) (excluding certain premium services) during the fall, winter, and spring quarters only. 

UC San Diego students currently use the U-Pass to take over 4.3 million bus rides and over 1.8 million trolley rides annually. It is a critical student program that provides sustainable and equitable access to campus resources, education, employment, and social activities that are essential to student success and well-being.

Authority for the Student Transportation Fee and the U-Pass program will expire at the end of spring quarter 2025 unless the fee is reauthorized. This referendum proposes to reauthorize the Student Transportation Fee, (currently $69.57) per quarter, and increases it by $5.43 to a new total of $75.00 per quarter in Fall 2025, as well as expands the services provided under the fee.

If passed, this referendum will not only continue unlimited San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD) bus and trolley access for all fee-paying graduate and undergraduate students, it will be expanded and enhanced to add: 

• Free transit all summer for continuing students and new graduates
  • Only three quarters of fees will be assessed to provide an entire year of service
• All NCTD+, FLEX and COASTER services
• Funding for new and existing student transportation programs
  • Fully funds and supports the Triton Transit Grocery Convoy Shuttle service
  • Funds and supports the expansion of Triton Mobility and late-evening On-Demand services
  • Provides dedicated funds for student-driven initiatives and priority transportation projects, guided by the UC San Diego Student Transportation Advisory Committee (STAC)

For more information, see "Funded Services" below.

1. Expand currently covered MTS/NCTD transit service to include summer quarter for current students, even if they are not taking classes during summer quarter, and spring quarter graduates
2. Expand currently covered NCTD transit service to include COASTER rail service, NCTD Flex, and NCTD Plus bus service.
3. Enhance Triton Transit and Triton Mobility services including:
   • Grocery Shuttle: Provide recurring funding for shuttle service at 30-minute or better frequency, a minimum of 16 hours per week, for the purpose of helping students access affordable, healthful, and culturally relevant food options.
   • Triton Mobility: Provide recurring funding of seven-day-a-week ADA cart service for students with disabilities within all areas of the La Jolla campus;
   • Safe Ride Services: Provide recurring funding to expand evening on-demand ride service within the La Jolla campus from the end of Triton Transit’s fixed-route service until 2:00 a.m. on weeknights,
   • Sustainability and Service Reliability: Provide incremental funding to accelerate replacement of aging increasingly unreliable buses with zero-emission battery-electric buses.
4. Provide annual funding to the Student Transportation Advisory Committee (STAC) to support innovative, student-initiated transportation solutions (allocated equally among the following student priorities):
   • Transportation Equity and Inclusion solutions, such as carpool incentives for students living in locations that are not well-served by transit, transportation solutions for students with dependents, or transportation solutions for students facing housing instability. 
   • Transportation Safety & Security solutions, such as emergency ride home service for off-campus students, security patrols for bike and scooter parking areas and transit stops, additional bike/scooter lockers and enclosures with cameras and restricted access and improvements to existing bike/scooter rack/enclosure security, lighting improvements at bus stops and bike racks, physical improvements to locations where bike/scooter accidents have occurred. 
   • Student-centered Parking Program improvements, such as safety improvements to student parking areas, parking cost relief for high-need/low-income students, ad hoc (no pre-registration required) carpool parking, student-focused ADA parking improvements, innovative student centered and conceived parking programs or services. 
   • Innovative initiatives that respond to emerging student needs. Solutions that either respond to new or increased student needs or leverage emerging technologies and solutions. 

Students Subject to the Fee

If passed, this fee will apply to all undergraduate and graduate fee-paying students.

Student Oversight & Reporting

The Student Transportation Advisory Committee (STAC) will provide oversight of funds generated by the fees. STAC is a board of student representatives from each of the undergraduate colleges, the Associated Students, and the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) to advise Transportation Services on various transportation and parking issues on campus. The STAC will recommend allocation of fees to specific program areas above and beyond contractual commitments for transit service. The STAC encourages engagement from the university. All STAC meetings are open to the public and provide meaningful opportunity for suggestions, questions, and feedback on transportation initiatives and projects. Consistent with the STAC bylaws, students shall be the only voting members with professional staff serving on STAC doing so in an advisory capacity only. Programs funded by the fee will be administered by UC San Diego Transportation Services. Transportation Services will provide STAC quarterly revenue and expense reports for these programs. Annual budget reports for these programs will be made public and provided to all UC San Diego student governments.

Return to Aid 

If passed, the entirety of this fee will be included in the determination of financial aid and 29% of this fee revenue ($21.75 in Fall 2025) will be directed to the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office to be awarded based on student need. The remaining 71% of the fee collected ($53.25 in Fall 2025) will be used exclusively for programs and services outlined in the referendum. 

Quarters Assessed

If passed, this fee will be assessed Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters, beginning in Fall 2025. The U-Pass, as well as programs and services funded by this fee, will be provided year-round, including Summer Quarters, to current graduate and undergraduate students and, during Summer Quarters, to individuals who paid the fee in the preceding Spring Quarter.

Adjusted for Inflation

If passed, this fee will be inflation adjusted every fall quarter, beginning in fall 2026, according to the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the San Diego Region. Other than the CPI, any adjustment to this fee would require a future referendum.

Voting

“Minimum voting pools” have been determined in accordance with University regulations. A minimum voter turnout of at least 20% of all students eligible to vote in a particular student election. The exact number of students required will be provided by the University Registrar in advance of the election and will be based on the winter quarter 2025 census data. In addition, this referendum requires ratification by over fifty percent (50%+1) affirmative vote for approval.

Fee Modification

Modifications of this fee, other than the specified adjustment for inflation, may only be made by a subsequent student referendum held in accordance with appropriate student governmental and University policies.

Pros of the Referendum Passing

1. Expanded U-Pass Benefits:
   Students gain access to additional services, such as summer transit access and COASTER inclusion, increasing flexibility for year-round travel.
2. Support for Triton Mobility Initiatives:
   Funding enhances mobility options on campus, such as shuttles for grocery runs, ultimately increasing services for students with disabilities.
3. Sustainability and Access:
   Promotes sustainable transportation by encouraging public transit use.
4. Improved Student Experience:
   Enhanced transportation options can make it easier for students to commute to campus, internships, and off-campus housing.
5. Maintains U-Pass Continuation:
   Ensures the continued availability of the U-Pass program, which connects students to vital public transit resources.

Cons of the Referendum Passing

1. Increased Student Fees:
   The referendum would lead to a higher transportation fee (going from $69.57 to $75.00).
2. Reliance on Regional Transit:
   Dependence on public transit systems like MTS and COASTER could pose challenges if there are delays or service cuts.
3. Potential for Underutilization:
   If awareness or usage of expanded services is low, the additional cost might not provide sufficient value for all students.

1. What is the referendum?
   A vote to reauthorize the fee funding the U-Pass program, providing Undergraduate and Graduate students unlimited MTS and NCTD transit rides all year round.
2. Why is it happening now?
   The current fee expires after Spring 2025. Without reauthorization, U-Pass benefits will end.
3. What’s changing if it passes? The fee increases by $5.34 to $75/quarter starting Fall 2025, and adds access to graduate students, new summer U-Pass access, COASTER rides, and more. It also includes enhancements to Triton Mobility programs, such as grocery shuttles, ADA services, and expanded evening on-demand rides.
4. How does it benefit students? It provides year-round transit access, ADA mobility improvements, and safety-focused projects.
5. Any downsides?
   Some students may find the fee increase challenging, especially if they don’t use transit often.
6. How is the fee used?
   Funds go toward U-Pass, Triton Transit, ADA mobility, and student-led transportation initiatives.
7. Who does this affect?
   All UCSD students, both undergraduate and graduate students, will pay the transportation fee.
8. Will summer services apply to everyone?
   Yes, including students not enrolled in summer classes and spring grads.
9. What’s the benefit of COASTER access?
   It's fast and provides access throughout San Diego County. This can be an especially convenient option for coastal and North County commuters.
10. What happens if it doesn’t pass?
    U-Pass and other transit services will end after Spring 2025.
11. How can I vote?
    Vote online (link: https://as.ucsd.edu/upass2025/) via Qualtrics from 10am on January 27 to January 31 at 4:00pm (PST).