CSU U-Pass Cancelled…, Then Reinstated
- Joshua E. Brown
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Since 2007, the RTA U-Pass program has provided full- and part-time Cleveland State University students with unlimited access to Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority buses and rapid transit through the academic year for a flat and universal fee of $57.50 per semester. Students not using the pass were still charged the fee with no ability to opt out. On the morning of July 30, 2025, less than one month before the start of the spring semester, CSU administration notified students that the RTA U-Pass program was being discontinued.
Without a stated reason for the change, many students who rely upon the program for daily transportation were angered and disappointed. It was reported that over 40% of students utilize the U-Pass to save hundreds of dollars in transportation costs. For the fall and spring semesters, the U-Pass costs $115. Paying the $95 full price of monthly RTA passes from September through May would total $855. Riding RTA buses is an alternative to the costs and stresses of driving, fueling, and parking a personal vehicle.
After just a few hours of student backlash, administration followed up with an email claiming that “state regulations no longer allow us to charge this fee for all students as a part of our billing process.” The state regulation they referred to was House Bill 96 which, according to CSU administration, prevented public colleges and universities from mandating that all students pay special purpose fees. Cleveland.com reported a statement from the Governor Mike DeWine’s office that the school’s interpretation of the new law was a “ridiculous reading,” and that the U-Pass did not violate the law. Other northeast Ohio colleges and universities did not cancel their similar U-Pass programs.
Quickly, a campaign of students and community organizations like Clevelanders for Public Transit began pressuring the school to reinstate the U-Pass. These efforts were spearheaded by CSU|Law student and president of CSU College Democrats, Cael Shaw, and included “bringbackupass” social media accounts and petitions to spread awareness and prompt students and community members to show their support for bringing back the U-Pass.
That campaign succeeded, and on August 13, Cleveland State reintroduced the U-Pass program with a few changes. The U-Pass is now only available to full time student, including undergraduate and law students enrolled in at least 12 credit hours, and graduate students enrolled in at least 9 credit hours. Students will not automatically be charged a fee but may elect to receive the U-Pass by paying the same price of $57.50. The current iteration of the program is set to last through the spring 2026 semester, continuation of the program beyond the spring has not been confirmed.
According to the RTA, the current U-Pass program is not an “opt-in” system and has not changed from previous agreements with the school. Rather, CSU has made the pass optional for students by restricting eligibility for the program and covering the remaining costs that would have been paid by students not using the U-Pass. This could be a strategy on behalf of CSU to negotiate a less costly agreement with RTA in the future.
For some, the changes to the CSU U-Pass are welcome. It removes a fee for students who do not want the bus pass and maintains the pass for those who want and need it. The current iteration of the U-Pass may not be sustainable if it increases the University’s expense toward the program. For students who use the U-Pass, the current iteration is still a step backward because of the exclusion of part-time students who rely on the U-Pass just as much as full-time students. The reintroduction of the U-Pass does not remove the anxiety that the program may be cancelled or further reduced in the future.
I am one of those students who relies on the U-Pass program to get to school, to get to internships and jobs, and to explore all that Cleveland has to offer. I am a more cultured and community-oriented person because of my ridership, and I have planned and budgeted my life around using the U-Pass. Having nearly no income as a student makes adjusting to full price RTA passes or transitioning to driving almost impossible. Cleveland State has long been labeled a commuter school, where students attended classes while residing across Cuyahoga and surrounding counties. The vast majority of students do not live on campus and need reliable transportation between their homes and the school. The U-Pass gives more northeast Ohioans an opportunity to continue their education without transportation becoming a prohibitive cost. Though I am glad that the program is continued for another school year, I believe the U-Pass should be a universal and perpetual amenity. I urge CSU administrators to prioritize restoring and keeping the RTA U-Pass.
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