Transit Referendum
Learn before you vote.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns in regards to the transit referendum, we encourage you to read through the entirety of this page, ask questions in the comments on our social media posts, use this website's live chat, or visit your NCSAC office at your campus.
*The Question*
Do you continue to support the U-Pass at a mandatory cost of $280/semester/student?
What happens if you vote YES?
If the majority (50%+1) of NC students vote “YES”, then your NCSAC will keep the mandatory U-Pass for Niagara Regional Transit. NC students can use this pass for a full semester and travel on any Niagara Regional Transit bus. (sorry, no GO Transit).
U-Passes will only be valid for the semester(s) that you are studying in, and cannot be used in semesters where you are not a student.
All NCSAC custom routes will not be impacted, and will remain operational.
What happens if you vote NO?
If the majority (50%+1) of NC students vote “NO”, then there will be no mandatory U-Pass fee for NC students as of September 2025.
Any student wishing to ride transit, will pay retail fare prices through Niagara Regional Transit.
If you are using Niagara Regional Transit to get to school, those passes cost $100/month (as of July 1, 2025), totalling $400/semester (4 x $100= $400).
​
The following routes will be removed from the transit system as they are NCSAC custom routes: 34, 40A, 45A, 40B, 45B, 60A, 60C, 65A, 65C.
​
The frequency would change on 40, 45, 60, 65, 70, and 75 and will be reduced to hourly service. Any additional frequency on Niagara Regional Transit routes will be added at the NRT’s discretion.
There is no planned U-Pass discount or subsidy for the 2025-2026 school year.
Why the Referendum?
Your NCSAC believes in the democratic process. Rather than our Board of Directors making a decision on your behalf, we want our student members (that’s you) to vote.
The results of the vote will decide whether or not Niagara College students have a UPass
for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond.