Peggo problems leave some university students out in cold

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This article was published 17/01/2018 (2820 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The University of Manitoba Students’ Union wants the city to shift gears on some parts of its U-Pass system, after experiencing glitches with Winnipeg Transit’s Peggo cards.

UMSU president Tanjit Nagra estimated the students’ union replaced about 2,000 U-Passes in January because the reusable cards weren’t automatically loading fares for the winter semester.

“It’s -40 C weather and there are students that are being denied transit service and getting kicked off buses because their U-Pass isn’t working, when it was really an error on Winnipeg Transit’s part,” Nagra said in an interview Wednesday.

In an emailed statement, a city spokesperson said some students’ Peggo cards were displaying “insufficient funds” on fare boxes Jan. 3, but the issue was quickly resolved overnight. The city estimated only about 1,000 U-Passes were affected between the U of M and the University of Winnipeg.

This was the first time the U of M U-Passes were reloaded online and the city doesn’t anticipate any more issues with them going forward, the spokesperson said.

University of Winnipeg Students’ Association president Laura Garinger said students report Peggo glitches at the start of every term, but the trend only affected about 100 cards of 7,000 eligible users this month.

After consulting with students, Nagra said UMSU is talking to the public works chairman, Coun. Marty Morantz, and other Winnipeg Transit officials about potential changes to the U-Pass system.

The UWSA isn’t requesting any major U-Pass changes right now, Garinger said.

Red River College students voted in favour of getting a U-Pass, which is scheduled to happen in September after studies by transit and a review by city council.

UMSU is pushing to introduce a summer U-Pass, which students can opt in for if they want. The students’ union also wants to waive the proposed $5 fee for Peggo cards, which students are supposed to be charged starting in the fall.

When students voted in favour of the $260 U-Pass during a referendum in 2014, they didn’t agree to pay the $5 surcharge, Nagra said.

“I don’t think it’s fair to then have to charge students a fee for a service they’re already paying for in their tuition,” she added.

UMSU’s last ask is for a U-Pass opt-out option for students who live in areas with little to no transit service, such as certain parts of St. Vital, Sage Creek, Bridgwater, St. Norbert, Amber Trails and around the south perimeter. (Students outside city limits can already opt out of the U-Pass.)

The students’ union determined which areas to include based on student feedback and cross-referencing with a City of Winnipeg transit systems map.

Aleem Chaudhary, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union 1505, said Winnipeg Transit should improve service rather than offering opt outs.

“For years, Winnipeg has grown upwards and outwards, while City Hall hasn’t invested in expanding a public transit service which is already stretched thin,” he said in an email.

“Instead of investigating opt outs for those enrolled in the U-Pass program who can’t access Winnipeg Transit service, we believe that the city should take action immediately to address historical and current funding shortfalls and move to enhance and expand transit service across Winnipeg.”

Morantz (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Whyte Ridge) said it’s too soon to tell whether any U-Pass changes could be implemented, but hopes to meet with city administration soon to discuss the possibilities.

“It would be premature to say if any changes would be recommended to council, as we will require time to analyze these issues more fully,” Morantz said by email. “Of course, in the event changes to the U-Pass agreement are recommended by the administration, they would be subject to council approval as a whole.”

jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @_jessbu