PRESS RELEASE
January 25, 2013
The Student Union of the Fraser Valley has been working hard on solving the lack of transportation options for students between Chilliwack and Abbotsford.
UFV students to vote on Campus Shuttle proposal
Abbotsford, B.C. – This March the UFV Student Union Society (SUS) will be going to students asking them to vote on the question “Do you support an up to $6.75 per semester Chilliwack-to-Abbotsford transit fee to secure mass transit between Chilliwack and Abbotsford for our students?” For the last several years many students have had to endure the additional cost of finding transportation between UFV campuses in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, hampering accessibility in several ways.
As of 2012, many University programs have moved to the CEP campus and currently there are no affordable transportation options between the Campuses.
Shane Potter, President of the Student Union Society ran on the platform of connecting Chilliwack and Abbotsford with a Shuttle service. On Potter’s advice, the SUS Board approved the creation of a single purpose committee dedicated to addressing the lack of accessible transportation between the Abbotsford and CEP campuses. The project would not be a success without the experience, long hours, and dedication of the Committee members Representative at Large Jay Mitchell, and Vice President Academic Dan Van Der Kroon, both of which have been working on transportation issues for the past five years and are well connected in the community. Through their hard work and the support of UFV administration, particularly Vice President Students Jody Gordon, a proposal has been drafted to contract a private company in establishing a bus route between campuses for a flat semester fee.
The SUS transit committee is working on years of experience as the Student Union Society has been lobbying for a public transportation solution between the campuses. It is expected as the cities of Abbotsford and Chilliwack continue to discuss transportation services with the SUS and UFV, a public option may be provided in the future.
Students will be able to vote through a referendum between March 1st and 8th by logging on to myufv.ca and submitting their vote.
Shane Potter
President
UFV Student Union Society
p. 604.864.4613
e. president@ufvsus.ca