The AMS announced on Aug. 12 that Kingston Transit had approved a temporary student pass option at Kingston City Council Tuesday evening. 

According to the AMS, the pass allows Queen’s students to access public transit during the fall term at a “reduced rate” compared to options available to the general public.

Students can purchase the pass for $119 to use public transit from Sept. 1, 2020 until Jan. 3, 2021. The fee can be paid to the City of Kingston online and the bus pass will be available through a smartphone app.

Passes will be available for purchase starting Aug. 24.

READ MORE: AMS terminates Bus-It Program for upcoming year

In consultation with the City of Kingston, the AMS announced it had terminated the Bus-It program for the 2020-21 year on June 2. 

Funded by a mandatory student fee of $93.82, the Bus-It program traditionally provides unlimited access to Kingston transit throughout the entire school year.

The AMS opted to cancel the fee entirely because many students don’t plan to return to campus in the fall term, and the Society doesn’t have the ability to list transit as an optional fee.

Acknowledging the increased cost of transit for the upcoming year, the AMS intends to create a bursary to make the student bus pass more accessible. 

“All AMS and SGPS members who have purchased a bus pass will be able to access the bursary,” the Society wrote in a statement. “Please stay tuned for more information.”