Laney Tower

Issue date: 5/8/08 Last update: 11/21/09 at 10:53 AM PST Section: News

Media Credit: California Channel Student Trustee Reginald James speaks in favor of AB 1980 at an Assembly Higher Ed. Committee in April

Since 2001, Peralta students have indicated interest in partnering with AC Transit to offer discounted bus passes to students, in an arrangement similar to UC Berkeley's Bear Pass.

Students are now one step closer to getting on the bus.

The Peralta Accessibility Act, AB 1980, introduced by Assembly Member Sandre Swanson (D-Oakland) passed the Assembly Floor with large bi-partisan support May 5. The measure passed 67-7, with six assembly members abstaining or absent from the vote.

The Assembly Higher Education Committee previously approved the bill April 22 by a count of 7-0.

The bill will allow the Peralta District to assess a fee to students in order to provide subsidized bus passes to full-time students (12 units or more). Students currently paying $70 per month would only pay $50 per semester if this measure is approved by the Senate, signed by the Governor, and approved by the Peralta Board of Trustees.

A majority of students on each campus would have to vote to approve the fee in order for it to go into effect.

"Currently Students who attend school thus pay upwards of $1,300 per year," Swanson said during the Asm. committee meeting. "This legislation would lower that cost to $50 per semester."

"The need for this universal bus pass is increasing due to the proposed budget cuts and possible AC Transit fee increases," said ASCOA President Joseph Johnson, who was one of two students who testified before the committee.

Peralta Student Trustee Reginald James said, "Three years ago I spoke at an AC Transit hearing where they were considering fees, and they did. This May they are considering raising the fee for a monthly bus pass from $70 per month to $80," added James, who stressed the "need for our students to have affordable and accessible transportation."

James then held up an AC Transit bus transfer he purchased to get to school that morning, telling the committee "I got this transfer today, this is $2 in my hand, but it's not worth anything now because it expired an hour and a half after I bought it." The fee restructuring in 2005 set the cost for a single ride at $1.75 and single use transfers, which can be used once within an hour and a half time slot to board other buses, to 25 cents.

James, an Alameda resident, then explained how in 2006, he had to ride the bus back and forth between Laney and COA for classes, trying to use a transfer that only lasted for an hour and a half. His morning class at Laney was also an hour a half long.

"I'd often have to arrive late to class just to make it back to COA before my transfer expired," James said. "I had to drop both classes."

"In order to prevent other students from having to do the same, having them delay their educational goals and defer their dreams, I encourage you to support this measure."

Dr. George Herring explained that the number of students who take classes on more than one campus has nearly tripled since he was COA President.

"Last year, one in four students took classes on more than one Peralta campus," said Dr. George Herring, interim vice-chancellor of special projects at Peralta.

Johnson told the committee that students on his campus were overwhelmingly in support of the proposal and that, as gas prices have risen higher, he has recently seen more students riding the bus.

"I've seen buses packed going to and from our schools," said Johnson. "Often with me within them."

The bill is similar to AB 1968, signed by the Governor Schwartzneggar in September 2006, which allowed Los Rios and Rio Hondo community college districts to assess a fee to students for similar programs. The bill passed with wide partisan support, according to Swanson.

"Los Rios had a pilot program in effect in 2006 which was so successful that student ridership increased 300 percent," James told the Tower. "Because the California Education. Code exempts low-income students, the district was going to have to raise the prices of the passes, defeating the purpose of the passes; affordability. So in order to keep the program affordable, the low-income students, who were using the passes, had to pay."

Los Rios students save about $800 annually according state Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO).

According to the Dr. George Herring, Peralta students would save up to $1,300 annually. Students would receive a Translink card, which would also serve as an student identification card, that would allow them to ride not only local buses, but unlimited on transbay buses as well.

"This is an excellent bill and excellent program," said Assembly Higher Education Committee Committee Chair Anthony Portantino (D-Pasadena). "Have you thought considered doing this statewide?" asked Portantino before the bill was voted on in committee.

The bill now heads to the Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Senator Don Perata (D-Oakland). No hearing date has been set.

Peralta plans to begin the Peralta Pass program in the fall of 2008, with a student referendum in the fall.

What can students do to support the initiative?

Join the Peralta AC Transit Student Advisory Committee
For more information, email Reginald James, join the listserv, or visit the Peralta Students Myspace Page

Contact your Representative

Senate President Don Perata

District 9 - Sen. Don Perata (D-Oakland)

Email Senator Perata or call his district office at (510) 286-1333

Senator Ellen Corbett

District 10 - Sen. Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro)

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Email the Governor

Tell them to support AB 1980, the Peralta Transportation Accessibility Act

Editor's Note: The following is from the California Chanel. The video features Assembly Member Sandre Swanson, Student Trustee Reginald James, and ASCOA President Joseph Johnson speaking before the committee.

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