Note: This was the policy proposal that was submitted to HSU administrators by Chris Rall and Aaron Antrim. In its implementation, parts of the JackPass program will be changed from the student proposal.

Program Overview

JackPass is a program that will improve car free access to HSU. The program will be funded by a $15 student fee, an “opt-in” $60 per semester staff fee, and parking fines & forfeitures revenue. It will provide all students, and HSU employees buying into the program, unlimited rides on Redwood Transit Service (RTS), and Eureka Transit Service (ETS). The existing free ride program on the Arcata and Mad River Transit Service (A&MRTS) will not be changed by Jack Pass, but a new Sustainable Transportation Committee may issue recommendations regarding this service. This Sustainable Transportation Committee will be created to assist with program administration and evolution, working with the JackPass Coordinator appointed by Parking and Commuter Services who will administer the program.

Funding

• Students will pay a mandatory fee of $15 per semester.

• Faculty and staff will have the option of buying into the program for $60 per semester.

• All fees will automatically increase in line with the Consumer Transportation Price Index from the U. S. Department of Labor (See Procedures Outlined Below).

• The Parking and Transportation Safety Committee will determine what proportion of the fines and forfeitures fund will be allocated to JackPass programs. It is recommended that the JackPass program be given the funding it requires to achieve its goal of reducing parking demand on or near campus. The JackPass fund may need support to fund initial programs, to build reserves in the event of higher than expected levels of rider-ship, and to provide funding for additional services if possible.

• The JackPass program should create and maintain an appropriate reserve that equals a minimum of two-percent of its annual expenditures.

Charge and Duties of Sustainable Transportation Committee

The Sustainable Transportation Committee will:

• Review and recommend approval of proposals for additional services.

• Recommend adjustments to fees.

• Encourage the creation of cost-benefit analyses for proposed services.

• Encourage the creation of grant proposals to provide supplemental funding for the program.

• The JackPass Coordinator will receive proposals and distribute them to the committee, create work orders to implement approved new services, manage JackPass funds, and develop an annual budget.

• The student chairperson will work with the JackPass Coordinator to schedule and announce meetings, set meeting agendas, and distribute minutes.

• The Sustainable Transportation Committee will review transportation metrics on a semester basis, comparing bus rider-ship numbers over time, as well as looking at statistics for competing modes, such as for parking, and will make this information publicly available on its website.

• If extra funds remain in the fines & forfeitures alternate transportation account after Jack Pass is funded, the sustainable transportation committee may choose to make recommendations on how best to spend these funds on any alternative transportation infrastructure, projects, and services.

Membership:

The sustainable transportation committee will have four (4) available seats for HSU Students. Even if not all seats are filled, it may continue to do business. The committee will elect a chair.

• Associated Students Executive Councilmember appointed by AS.

• Student Residence Hall Association representative

• Two students appointed by AS

(It is recommended that at least one student representative should also serve on the Parking and Transportation Committee.) 3 HSU Staff:

• JackPass Coordinator appointed by Supervisor of Parking and Commuter Services and approved by majority vote of the Sustainable Transportation Committee. The supervisor may appoint him or herself.

• Sustainability Coordinator or designee from Administrative services.

• One faculty member appointed by the Academic Senate

Ex-Officio:

• Appointee from HSU University Advancement

• Appointee from HSU Fiscal Affairs

• City of Arcata A&MRTS Director

• Humboldt Transit Authority Director

• Directors of other transit agencies if they are added to the program

Jack Pass Services

• All JackPass holders will have unlimited-ride access to Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) buses including RTS, which serves the 101 corridor in northern Humboldt County from Trinidad to Scotia, and ETS which serves the city of Eureka.

• The student I.D. card will initially serve as a JackPass for students. Efforts will be made to make the student I.D. compatible with any new bus boarding technology.

• JackPass holders will have access to unlimited ride services during mid-semester vacation periods and over winter break if they were registered for the preceding fall or are registered for the upcoming spring semester.

• Students enrolled in, and who have paid for, the summer semester will pay the mandatory JackPass fee and receive JackPass services over the summer between the last day of the spring semester up to the first day of the fall semester. Students enrolled in and who have paid for, the preceding spring or following fall semester, and staff may opt-in for the summer semester for the higher opt-in fee. Fees for the summer will be prorated based on the shorter, 12-week semester. The mandatory fee will $10.59, and the opt-in fee will be $42.35.

• Since faculty and staff will buy into the program individually, their HSU ID cards cannot function as their JackPass. A JackPass sticker can be issued to faculty and staff who buy into the program, which will make their ID card a valid JackPass.

• With the goal of encouraging more HSU attendees to not bring their cars to campus, additional services could be added to, or become partner services with, the JackPass program in the future with committee approval. These could include improvements to A&MRTS service, free rider-ship on Blue Lake Rancheria Transit, an emergency ride home program, bicycle commuter services, support for an HSU-based short-term car-rental program in partnership with a company such as FlexCar, and discounts on longer distance transit services such as the Willow Creek bus, the Hoopa to Willow Creek Bus, Greyhound and AmTrak.

• If the alternative transportation fund for JackPass and other programs grows to sufficient size, its monies may be used to pay for transportation demand management staff and services, including research, planning, promotion, and the capability to field day-to-day commuter inquiries and questions.

Ballot Statement

Should we create the Jack Pass to provide improved access to HSU and reduce parking demand through a $15 per student per semester fee that will provide students with a universal bus pass? This fee will be adjusted automatically based on the Consumer Transportation Price Index from the U. S. Department of Labor.

YES

NO