PASSES REQUIRED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE RIDES ON HRT

As a benefit of paying the university's transportation fee, Old Dominion University faculty, staff and students can ride on Hampton Roads Transit busses at no cost. However, riders must first pick up an "ODU/HRT swipe card" from the Parking and Transportation Office, located in the parking garage at Elkhorn Avenue and 43rd Street.

Students will need to show their valid student ID to receive a free swipe card. Faculty and staff will need to pay $22, which is the equivalent of the transportation fee each semester. This fee is nonrefundable and cannot be prorated.

The new cards, which will be issued in January, will be required for all university riders. Students previously were allowed to ride free by simply showing their student ID card. The swipe card is being implemented to prevent non-current students from abusing the system.

The university began partnering with HRT in October. In the program's first two months, faculty, staff and students took more than 11,300 rides using the free ride program. In addition, the university provided 191 rides to and from campus for disabled students on the HRT Handi-Ride, saving those students more than $500 collectively.

The university's partnership with HRT began in October. According to James W. Long, director of parking and transportation, the university contacted HRT after President James V. Koch and the Board of Visitors suggested finding a way to help international students get off campus easier. "As we looked at it, we realized we could do this for everyone, and it would be a better deal," Long said. "And they said 'Go for it!'"

Long noted that HRT charges riders $1.50 typically. Through the partnership, the university pays 80 cents per ride.