Universal Student U-PASS Advisory Board

The Universal Student U-PASS Advisory Board is the student-run oversight committee for the Universal Student U-PASS program. Six representatives are appointed by the Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW) and three by the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS). The Board works with advisers from UW Transportation Services and UW Student Life to represent student interest in the U-PASS program and ensure its long-term health and effectiveness.

It is the responsibility of the advisory board to report and make recommendations to the ASUW (NetID required) and GPSS regarding the program, including, but not limited to, fee changes and cancellation.

The advisory board is subject to the U-PASS Memorandum of Understanding as well as the committee’s own bylaws. The bylaws govern the conduct of the committee, whereas the Memorandum of Understanding acts as the authority by which the committee can operate. Each meeting of the advisory board begins with a public comment period, as required by the bylaws.

If you have any comments about the policies and governance of the Universal U-PASS program please contact upassab@uw.edu. If you have any questions about the U-PASS service please contact UW Transportation Services at ucommute@uw.edu.

Upcoming meetings

U-PASS Advisory Board Regular Meeting

Meets every Friday 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in Transportation Services building, room 318.

Student U-PASS Fee-setting Public Forum

Held March 14, 2025 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m in Transportation Services building, room 318.

A photo of Jayce in a restaurant reading a menu

Jayce Blanchard – Board Chair

Pronouns: He/Him
Major(s): Finance
What is your favorite public transportation system that you’ve ridden?
"The Link! It is the system I have used the most by far, and I love how it easily connects me to the rest of the Seattle region—and I am very excited to explore its various extensions as they open!"

A photo of Ben outside, with a plant behind him

Ben Fowlkes – Vice Chair

Pronouns: He/Him
Major(s): Bioengineering
Why are you interested in public transportation?
"I’m interested in public transportation because it is how my family came together. My parents met working at Pierce Transit and I was raised knowing the ins and outs of the bus system. (Google 'Pierce Transit’s Daffodil Bus' and you’ll see a familiar face on the side). I’m excited to continue serving our transit community on the board!"

A photo of Laura outside in front of the water, at sunset.

Laura Hawksworth

Pronouns: She/her
Major(s): (intended) CEP and Geography
What is your favorite place in Seattle to reach via transit? And what transit do you use to get there?
"My favorite place in Seattle to reach via transit is Chinatown/International District. I primarily use the light rail to get there, but I have also used the bus. Amazing art, food, and neighborhood with connections to both the Link and King Street bus station. The ferry terminal is relatively close as well!"

A photo of Kaira in front of a white backdrop

Kaira Nair

Pronouns: She/her
Major(s): Applied Computational Maths and Sciences
What is your favorite place in Seattle to reach via transit? And what transit do you use to get there?
"My favorite place to reach via transit in Seattle is Pike Place. I love taking the Link light rail there because it’s convenient, and the food, views, and overall vibes always make the trip worth it!"

A photo of Hamza

Hamza Eqbal

Pronouns: He/him
Major(s): Informatics
What is your favorite public transportation system that you’ve ridden?
"My favorite public transit system that I’ve ridden is the Doha Metro. The ticketing system is cheap and really easy to navigate, the trains are modern and clean, and most importantly they have floor-to-ceiling doors that open when the train comes so that I don’t accidentally fall on the tracks and get run over."

A photo of Kayla sitting on stairs outside taking a selfie with a digital camera

Kayla Gorospe – ASUW Senate Liaison

Pronouns: She/her
Major(s): Finance
If you were a form of transportation, what would it be?
"I think I would be a ferry! I’m the type of person who likes to take it slow and absorb the views. Whether it's on the commute or in my daily activities, I take my time to really absorb the world around me. I also love talking to and meeting new people, which I think is a unique characteristic of the ferry."

A photo of Zoe sitting at a retro arcade game

Zoe Hall  

Pronouns: She/her
Major(s): MPH Global Health
What is your favorite place in Seattle to reach via transit? And what transit do you use to get there?
"My favorite place in Seattle to reach via public transport is anywhere the water taxis can take me! I think the water taxis are one of the best kept secrets of the U-PASS and I love to spread the word. Nothing hits like taking your bike on a water taxi."

 

Alexandros Peltekis  

Pronouns: He/him
Major(s): Ph.D. Theoretical Chemistry
Why are you interested in public transportation?
"I’m interested in public transportation because it brings people together. There’s something meaningful about a system that helps everyone move reliably from one place to another without the individual burden and responsibility that, for example, comes with owning a car. To me, that balance of accessibility, community, and practicality is what makes public transit so impactful."

A photo of Hector standing on a mountain top, with a grey skey behind

Héctor E. Delgado Díaz  

Pronouns: He/him
Major(s): Ph.D. Astronomy
If you were a form of public transportation, what would you be?
"If I was a form of transportation, I would be a ferry. I enjoy water activities and living near a body of water so the lifestyle would fit pretty well with me. Also, it’s impressive how many passengers (and even cars) can be transported inside a ferry!"

For over 30 years, the U-PASS has provided affordable mass transit choices to UW students, including: bus service in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties, access to Sounder commuter rail; Link Light Rail, NightRide shuttle service and more. In large part due to U-PASS, 80% of commute trips to campus are made without a personal vehicle.

A combination of factors led to drastic increases in U-PASS cost in 2009, and the ASUW Board of Directors created the Student Transportation Taskforce (STT) to explore possible solutions. The work of this taskforce led to the current Universal Student U-PASS, student control of price increases and creation of the Universal Student U-PASS advisory board.

In 2025, the advisory board voted to set the rate to $73/quarter for the 2025-26 academic year.

The Advisory Board maintains its oversight role and control of price increases. The Advisory Board continually works with its partners and UW administration to maximize the value and effectiveness of the U-PASS program in meeting student transportation needs.

Read more about this history in the Universal U-PASS Advisory Board resource binder (PDF, 13.3MB).