University students and faculty will be able to take unlimited Twin Cities bus rides soon, following a decision Thursday by the Board of Regents.
Regents unanimously approved the U-Pass program at their monthly meeting, which will provide University students and faculty with discounted bus passes.
Student passes will cost $55 per semester and faculty passes $35 per month. They will be available in late August, according to University parking and transportation staff.
The goal of the program is to reduce carbon monoxide emissions and congestion around campus. The program is also expected to increase transit use by 40 percent at the University, said Regent H. Bryan Neil.
For the most part, the program got approval as a result of the Minnesota Department of Transportation Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Program’s $5.5 million grant to help fund a two-year demonstration of the U-Pass, said Regent Maureen Reed.
University student fees and Metro Transit will fund the additional $1.4 million program costs.

— Patrick Hayes