UNO Expands Metro Ridership Program

OMAHA – Beginning Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) students, staff and faculty will be able to use their university ID as a Metro Transit bus pass.

The expansion of UNO’s popular MavRide program will provide bus access to more than 15,000 students and more than 3,000 faculty and staff.

No special activation will be required for those wanting to use their MavCARD; instead, passengers will only need to swipe their card to ride.

Metro will accept MavCARDs belonging to all faculty, staff and active students at any time buses are running (with this change, MavRide will now cover Sundays and time between semesters). Students are considered active if they are currently taking classes or registered for the upcoming semester.

MavRide is an initiative started by Student Government that, in partnership with Metro Transit, has provided a set number of physical bus passes to students on request since 2011. In January 2015, the program expanded with funding from UNO Parking Services, allowing faculty and staff to activate their MavCARDs as bus passes.

All told, Metro has provided more than 266,000 rides to UNO students, staff and faculty participating in the program.

The upcoming MavRide expansion is jointly funded by UNO’s Student Government and UNO Parking Services, with existing funds from their current budgets.

Emergency Ride Home

Students, staff or faculty who plan to start busing to campus can take advantage of the Emergency Ride Home program, which offers free taxi service in the event of an unexpected emergency for registered commuters who travel to UNO by bus (MavRide), ride share (Zimride), bike or walk to campus. Register for the program here: https://orgsync.com/109231/forms/137387 or learn more here: http://www.unomaha.edu/business-and-finance/support-services/parking-services/alternative-transportation.php#b.

Read more about the many ways you can get to campus here: http://www.unomaha.edu/news/2015/08/many-ways-to-get-to-campus.php.

A Leader in Sustainability

The 2016 MavRide expansion marks a major step forward in following the recommendations laid out in UNO’s Sustainability Master Plan. The document, announced in early 2015, identifies ways to implement new policies and programs that are environmentally friendly, socially responsible and financially feasible.

The announcement also comes less than two months after another significant development: the hiring of UNO’s first Sustainability Coordinator, Sarah Burke, who will facilitate the implementation of the Sustainability Master Plan and help support sustainability-based programs, events, and research activities. Burke earned her Master’s degree in Sustainability from St. Louis University and her undergraduate degree in Zoology from Colorado State University.

Media Reports

Want to learn more? Watch or read these media reports for more information.

UNO ID card soon will work as bus pass (Omaha World-Herald)

UNO to expand its MavRide program (KETV)

UNO Expands Ridership Program Through Metro Transit (WOWT)

UNO, Metro Transit Reveal New Ridership Program (FOX 42)

UNO's MavRide program to expand in 2016 (KIOS)

Sam Petto, UNO Media Relations Coordinator
unonews@unomaha.edu
402.554.2704

or

Charley Reed, UNO Associate Director of Media Relations
unonews@unomaha.edu
402.554.2129

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

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