(Feb. 8, 2018) -- The Athletics and Transportation Fees at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) will remain the same for students next school year. More than 6,100 students voted this week on a proposal to raise the fees. In the largest voter turnout ever at UTSA, neither fee passed.

Athletics Fee voting results

For – 1,439 or 23.3%

Against – 4,734 or 76.7%

Transportation Fee voting results

For – 1,857 or 30.1%

Against – 4,316 or 69.9%

The current Athletics Fee is $20/semester credit hour with a cap at 12 hours, or $240, which is 27 percent lower than the Conference USA average. The proposed increase would have raised it to $21/semester credit hour for the 2018-19 academic year and $22/semester credit hour for the 2019-20 academic year while also removing the 12 credit hour cap.

The fee increase was requested to enhance the students’ experience at UTSA sporting events, support recruiting student-athletes, maintain and upgrade athletic facilities, upgrade video equipment and expand staff to televise programs at Conference USA standards, and hire and retain athletic managers and trainers to support student well-being.

The current Transportation Fee, which has not increased in nearly 10 years, is $20/semester. The proposed increase was $29/semester for the 2018-19 academic year and $38/semester for the 2019-20 academic year.

The increased fee was requested to add shuttle routes, decrease congestion on campus, reduce demand for parking, and implement a shopping shuttle for students without transportation to grocery and retail stores.

“I am very appreciative that so many Roadrunners came out for the referendum vote,” said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. “It is vitally important to have participation in this democratic process and use the results to better understand our students’ viewpoints and areas of concern. We will carry this knowledge forward as we work toward supporting our athletic programs and their role in helping to build UTSA’s reputation beyond San Antonio and Texas.”