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It’s been three years in the making, but representatives from Algonquin College, the Algonquin Students’ Association and OC Transpo will be signing the Universal Transit Pass Agreement (U-Pass) Friday to officially adopt the system starting in the fall semester.

The agreement comes after 83 per cent of students at Algonquin College voted in favour of the U-Pass during a five-day online referendum last November.

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Once adopted in September, full-time Algonquin students will be required to buy the discounted bus pass for a fee of up to $199 per four-month semester. At present, students over the age of 19 pay a regular bus pass fare at about $100 per month.

Students who live outside Transpo’s service area can opt out of the program, which will be overseen by college staff and the Algonquin Students’ Association.

“We’ve worked really hard and are really excited to be able to provide students with his option,” said Christina Miller, president of the Students’ Association at the college. “It’s been a long time coming and everyone has done an incredible job at pulling their part and we are happy with the outcome.”

According to the Algonquin Student’s Association website, “the U-Pass provides a discount between 41 and 50 per cent compared to student monthly passes, and a discount between 53 and 62 per cent compared to adult monthly passes.”

The U-Pass program is valid on all routes, including express routes.

The program is also already available at the University of Ottawa, Saint Paul University and Carleton University. La Cité Collégiale and Dominican University College do not have u-pass programs.