UMD students push SmarTrip IDs

Transit

by David Alpert • May 20, 2009 11:53 am

The University of Maryland may integrate SmarTrip cards into its student IDs. Under the proposed program, instead of printing new student IDs on regular plain ID cards, the University would use blank SmarTrip cards. This would make it much easier for students to ride Metro, removing the necessary step of buying a SmarTrip or dealing with the unreliable paper farecards.

Photo by forklift.

According to Joanna Calabrese, one of the program's proponents, this program would strengthen the bonds between UMD and the rest of the region, encourage Metro use and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

UMD's relationship with DC and Metro has varied over the years. When Metro planners were designing the Green Line, UMD was far less diverse than today and still held ties to its agricultural roots. University President Elkins pushed for an alignment that placed the station farther from campus.

Today, however, the metropolitan region has grown and the University has evolved. Its Strategic Plan now calls for greater access to DC, to benefit from the University's proximity to the nation's capital. Proponents wrote, "The initiative also supports the goal to become a national model for a green university by promoting the use of public transportation and decreasing reliance on single-occupancy vehicles."

The University's Student Government Association (SGA) voted at the end of April to fund the program for incoming freshman. The program would have cost $23,000 for the first year and $17,000 in future years. The SGA would have used its reserves of about $17,000, but would have still had to find the last $6,000. However, the outgoing SGA president vetoed that bill.

The Diamondback covered the intricacies of the controversy, ranging from the process by which SGA passed the bill to the appropriateness of providing services mostly to freshmen. Leaders also disagreed on whether the SGA should spend its money on student services or on broader initiatives such as this SmarTrip program.

SGA could pass the bill again in the fall, which has the support of the new President. However, this would happen too late for next year's freshmen to get SmarTrips. Meanwhile, according to Calabrese, University student affairs officials are looking for private donations or even state grants to restore the program. In the longer term, SGA could push to increase student fees to cover the ongoing cost, though any fee increase is politically difficult. UMD's student fees cover all student services, including dining, gyms, and transportation, with no contribution from the state and no portion of tuition going to these programs, Calabrese explained.

10 comments — Share	— tags: SmarTrip, UMD

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Comments

And why doesn't any of the downtown universities have this yet?

Brilliant.

by Jasper on May 20, 2009 12:29 pm

This is such a great idea! It's a shame I already graduated back in 2003.

This makes so much sense because the Purple Line will go through the campus and will (most likely, after the proper negotiations) accept SmarTrip cards.

The Purple Line will enable the university to discontinue many of its shuttle bus services since many of them will be made redundant by the Purple Line.

by Cavan on May 20, 2009 1:27 pm

This is a good idea (assuming the SmartTrip technology is compatible with the existing Student ID technology, since I assume that students still use their IDs for the dining halls, dorm entry, etc). I hope they are able to find a different funding source, because the SGA President was probably correct in arguing that it should not be paid using funds from the student activities fee.

by DC_Chica on May 20, 2009 1:55 pm

It is compatible. SmarTrip uses RFID technology while the student ID uses a magnetic/optical scanner. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to print UMD IDs on RFID cards that have magnetic strips and barcodes for dorm keys and dining halls.

by Cavan on May 20, 2009 3:12 pm

Jasper, I assure you that this exact idea has been floating around every university since time immemorial. I know Georgetown launched a pilot program with its law center, but I know that some problem (either there or with some other test) with the cards being too flimsy and breaking stopped wider implementation, at least temporarily.

http://www.thehoya.com/node/15835

http://www.thehoya.com/node/16420

by Rob on May 20, 2009 3:44 pm

As a UMD student, I think this is a waste of student fee money. No student avoids the metro because of the inconvenience of buying a farecard, and if they use it regularly they know what a smartrip is and how to get one. Most people I know avoid the metro because it's a pain to get to, not walking distance from campus, though the shuttle bus is free and fairly frequent.

Worth reconsidering once the purple line goes through campus if it accepts smartrip. Until then, don't want my money wasted on this program.

by David P. Testudo on May 20, 2009 6:16 pm

As yet another UMD alumnus I applaud the SGA's forward-thinking on the matter, but I just don't see it working out. Student ID cards at Maryland are used for everything. The cards have a magnetic swipe that we used them to gain access to our dormitories, pay for meals, shop at campus stores, etc. As they are, SmarTrip cards are far too flimsy for the level of (ab)use the cards would have to endure. Additionally, if a card were lost/stolen/damaged (as is very likely the case) the process to recover your SmarTrip funds would be too complicated.

by Adam L on May 20, 2009 7:25 pm

I don't really see the benefit of combining them. Why not buy them in bulk and give them to every student? Put a terrapin or something on it so it's UMD specific.

Besides, if you're UMD student do you want that smartrip associated with your ID? What about anonymous metro trips to, you know, commit mayhem?

by ah on May 20, 2009 8:08 pm

DC government employees have their Smart trip and governement id on one card. It can be done.

by Kamantha on May 21, 2009 10:33 am

Excellent, I applaud the efforts of the SGA. I actually heard of this program at Maryland Day. As an alum, I only wish Smartrip was in existence back then and this program were in effect.

I see some comments are putting it down as part of cost. I remember even back then, I had to take Metro for some classes to reach museums for art classes. And I was a business major. Imagine a student deciding not to explore the museums because they didn't want to buy a fare card. If it were already on their student ID, they'd have little excuse.

by Tony Lam on May 21, 2009 4:49 pm