Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 4/4/02 Section: Campus News

Students might have to vote on whether they will accept a fee increase for their Valley Transportation Authority stickers at the next Associated Students election, said Eyedin Zonobi, the manager of Associated Students Transportation Solutions.

Students are charged for the stickers as part of their mandatory enrollment fees, according to Zonobi.

The current stickers are valid from Jan. 23 to Sep. 9, and cost students $21.50.

Zonobi said if the fee increase is approved by the VTA board of directors and goes to the A.S. ballot next year, the university could lose the program all together if the fee increase is voted down.

If the university loses the program, it will have a negative impact on the university, Zonobi said.

"More cars and heavier traffic will surround San Jose State University," Zonobi said. "Not just during peak hours - most of the day."

Zonobi said VTA is usually good about informing the university about potential policy changes, but he said they didn't contact SJSU soon enough about the proposed fee raise.

"Our reaction was of disappointment and surprise," Zonobi said. "They really should have informed us earlier. They know our policies."

Zonobi said the transportation company can't just raise the price of the transportation sticker - it has to be voted on by the students.

"We have a contract with them," Zonobi said. "Before any kind of a fare review, they are supposed to have informed us. We can't just increase the fees. We have to send this to student elections."

He said the fee increase would have been on the A.S. ballot last month, but the company did not inform the university in time.

"We have to sit down at the table with them," Zonobi said. "We don't know how this is going to affect us."

The transportation company said the fee increase has been proposed because of declining economic conditions.

Zonobi said VTA wants to raise the price as much as 15 percent.

"I think it's fair because I ride," junior social science major Paul Wymore said. "If (Valley Transportation Authority) is raising the fees - then it's all (users) ... it's not San Jose State putting on an extra tab because they want to make extra money."

VTA Public Information Manager John Pilger said fee increases are not a sure thing yet, so it is too early to tell what will happen.

"We are still holding meetings," Pilger said. "Nothing has been decided yet."

Pilger said the board of directors wants to have further discussions before they make a decision.

The board is expected to vote on whether to raise fees on May 2, Pilger said.

If approved, the fee increases would take place for public users in July, he said.

Zonobi said ridership among SJSU students is high this semester.

"It's going up steadily on campus," Zonobi said. "Especially with the current economic situation."

Some students don't think the fee increase should be an issue - they think it's unfair the sticker fee is included in their enrollment fees in the first place.

"I think they should ask us," said freshman pre-law major Brian Berleth. "We don't necessarily have to take (public transportation). Most of us drive here. Where is that money going if we don't use it?"

Jennifer Mendoza, a freshman political science major said, "It should be optional. (I never) use it at all. I have my own car."

According to Zonobi, having everybody pay makes the price of the sticker a lot cheaper.

"The whole concept of a pre-paid fare structure is it's across the board," Zonobi said. "When everybody pays, then it becomes very discounted."

The price for a monthly pass for the public is $39, according to the transportation company's Web site.

SJSU stickers are $21.50 and good for more than an entire semester, Zonobi said.

At this point, the fee raise is just a proposal and Zonobi is "countering it," he said.

Transportation Solutions sent 18,000 fliers to every SJSU students who lives in Santa Clara County, Zonobi said.

The fliers are to inform students about the proposed fare increase, he said.

They list the members of company's board of directors who will be voting on the proposal, along with contact information, Zonobi said.

"We asked them to contact their representative and oppose this," Zonobi said.

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