Virginia Isaad/ Roundup
The Student TAP program will end Fall 2011 due to a lack of sufficient funds, according to Associated Students Organization President Nick Naczinski.
The Los Angeles Community College District funds the TAP program through a bond subsidy that covers a large portion of the cost allowing for a low student rate, according to Los Angeles City College President and TAP committee member Jamillah Moore.
Currently, all full-time students can purchase the TAP card for $20 or pay $15 to recharge their card.
“Now that they raised the bus fees, it’s convenient to have a pass,” said freshman performing arts major, Danielle Abraham. “Especially since we come everyday.”
The Instruction Mitigation fund was implemented as a way to offset the difficulties of finding parking during construction on campus, according to Tom Hall, Director of Facilities Planning and Development for LACCD.
“It was meant to encourage students to use public transportation. Now that construction is pretty much finished, the funds have run out,” said Hall.
The program has been running for about two years according to Bruce Rosky, Associate Vice President of Administrative Services at Pierce College.
Students can be seen lining up at the Business Office for an “effective and cost-saving program,” said Rosky.
In order to provide the service for a longer period of time, the duration of the pass was shortened from six months (for use during summer and winter sessions) to the length of regular semesters.
One of the proposed solutions includes charging students a fee of $43 per semester starting Fall 2011, regardless of whether or not they use public transportation.
“As much as it’s an advantage for us, it’s not fair,” said freshman nursing major, Talisa Tan.
The proposal will likely not pass since it depends on student votes, according to Naczinski.
However, some see it as beneficial since it might encourage students who don’t use public transportation to do so.
LACCD Student Trustee Rodney D. Robinson strongly supports the student referendum and justifies charging all students since the benefits outweigh the costs.
“If we don’t have a TAP pass students might end up having to drop since they cannot get to school. Also, there will be more vehicles on the street adding to traffic,” said Robinson.
Student referendums have been successful on other campuses where students pay $30, according to David Sutton, Director of Metro Commute Services.
Other LACCD campuses have found it beneficial to raise parking pass fees in order to supplement funds, according to Sutton.
“I support raising the parking pass fee since it has not been raised since it was implemented so we need to catch up with the times; but it still would not cover the costs,” said Robinson.
Students are encouraged to ride the Orange Line which runs 14 miles between Warner Center and the North Hollywood Red Line subway station.
Students can take advantage of the parking at the Orange Line Station avoiding congested school parking.
Other possible solutions include fund raising from all LACCD colleges through the Student Affairs Committee, which includes Naczinski along with other LACCD campus representatives.
Regardless, student fund raising will likely not be sufficient to continue the program with the current price.
“We don’t know exactly how much money is actually needed so fund raising might not be enough,” said Naczinski.
If the price is increased, many TAP users have said they are willing to pay the price.
“It would still be cheaper than a regular TAP card,” said sophomore business major, Tahura Bibi.
Though student TAP services might no longer be available, full-time students will still be able to purchase the student Metro pass for a monthly fee of $36.
“School is expensive, text books cost even more now- this is all we have,” said sophomore nursing major, Sandra Penada.
There will be a LACCD meeting on Sept. 24, students are welcome to attend and learn more about the program.
For more information contact ASO, (818) 710-2566
LINKS
http://www.metro.net/news/simple_pr/metro-011609/
http://www.piercecollege.edu/rss/alerts.asp
http://taptogo.net/reducedfare.php