TORONTO, August 15, 1996 -- Today's launch of the new York Transit Pass will make it cheaper and easier for students to get to York University and will lead to better air quality and parking on campus.

The York Federation of Students, York University, Metro's TTC and The City of Vaughan's Transit together successfully worked out a deal to offer York students a bargain Metropass (TTC) or Multi Pass (Vaughan Transit).

Wayne Poirier, President of the York Federation of Students, said the new passes will make it cheaper and easier for students to get to campus and will reduce York's parking demands. (See Fact Sheet.)

"The project is an effort to find new ways to reduce the more than 4 million car trips to campus each year. If you add this financial incentive to student concerns about parking and pollution, it only makes sense to take the TTC or Vaughan Transit," said Poirier.

Last November, York University undergraduate students voted overwhelmingly to sudsidize a reduced cost transit pass on a pilot basis. The joint project runs to the end of 1996.

York University Vice-President (Institutional Affairs) Sheldon Levy praised the students' initiative and applauded the innovation and cooperation of the project's partners.

"This project is truly one in which we are all winners. The new York transit passes will make getting to campus easier and cheaper for thousands of York students coming from Metro Toronto and the north," said Levy. "It's better for the environment and will help keep the campus green by decreasing the demand for parking. We are really grateful for the cooperation of the TTC and Vaughan Transit, and give full credit to our students for working hard to make this a reality."

The new York Metropass costs $67.50, a $15.50 monthly savings from the adult Metropass. The new Vaughan Transit Pass is available for $51 per month, down from $62 for the Multi Pass.

The TTC pass provides unlimited rides each month on any TTC buses, subways or streetcars throughout Metro. The Vaughan pass is good for unlimited rides on Vaughan Transit as well as Markham, Richmond Hill and GO Yonge C bus routes. And for the first time, starting Sept. 3, the TTC 107B and 107C Keele North buses will travel into the centre of campus during designated periods. Customers will pay only one fare when travelling from Vaughan to the university.

The York Federation of Students will start selling the new passes on campus Wed., August 21.

-30- For more information, contact:

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor for Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, x 22087

or

Wayne Poirier
President of the York Federation of Students
York University
(416) 736-5324

YU/039/96