This semester, members of the Georgetown University community have witnessed issues affecting our campus that extend beyond the front gates. 

Students have particularly reiterated this point — Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA) president and vice president-elect Darius Wagner (CAS ’27) and Nazgol Missaghi (CAS ’28) made a priority of addressing Washington, D.C.-wide concerns and their effect on the student body.

Whether for personal, political or professional reasons, it is evident that the student body wants to pop the infamous “Georgetown bubble,” and our administration should support students in this endeavor. To truly be integrated with the broader D.C. community, the Editorial Board urges the university to implement a system that guarantees transportation cards for every student, rather than relying on the current lottery system. 

Since Fall 2022, the Hoya Transit program has supported some students’ travel across the District by disbursing a $50 monthly Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) credit per semester, a fee that covers roughly 10 to 16 trips on the Metro. To be eligible for this benefit, students must complete a form and undergo an anonymized random selection process that chooses up to 3,200 participants each semester. 

While the Editorial Board supports the program’s efforts to provide mass transit options for students, we believe that guaranteeing transportation for all students is integral to ensuring our student body remains connected to the rest of Washington, D.C. This is essential for preserving equitable learning opportunities and supporting the unique student experiences for which D.C. is known and loved. 

While the cost may seem minimal, paying $2.25 to $6.75 to use public transit can add up over time, especially for those who travel frequently for an internship or job. 

This resource is also not directly obvious to students. This fall, the deadline to apply for SmarTrip benefits was Wednesday, Aug. 13, before the semester even began. Students had little time to apply for the benefit before the opportunity was closed. 

Georgetown boasts its location in D.C., highlighting on its admissions pages that students can enjoy all the city has to offer, including internships, access to national attractions and distinguished guest speakers. 

Yet the fact remains that students still struggle to find convenient, affordable routes to their internships, especially given that the Georgetown neighborhood lacks a Metro stop. 

Though the Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle (GUTS), the campus’ free shuttle bus for Georgetown community members, provides free transportation to both the Dupont and Rosslyn Metro stations, students who do not receive WMATA credit through the Hoya Transit program are left to pay for their own Metro rides. For students who frequently commute to D.C. for internships, the Metro costs accumulate quickly.

With many internships being either unpaid or grossly underpaid, it is important to recognize that the additional cost of metro rides can especially place an undue burden on low-income students. 

In 2017, the New York Times reported that Georgetown ranked 12th in a study they conducted on income inequality at universities. Given significant wealth disparities, Georgetown could continue eliminating barriers to success for low-income students by providing every student — not just a randomly selected group — with a funded SmarTrip card.

While pre-professionalism is important for most Georgetown students, it is also important for students to simply be able to enjoy all Washington, D.C., has to offer, such as monuments, museums and cultural events, stress-free. 

The memories made at events like the kite festival or the holiday market are just as valuable as work experience, contributing just as significantly to students’ college experiences.

Beyond the Metro, the WMATA SmarTrip card offers benefits for those who ride Metrobus. The Metrobus is the only alternative transit option available to students in the Georgetown area. While the GUTS bus makes stops at eight specific locations, including one in Georgetown, the Metrobus provides more extensive coverage across the D.C. area. Additionally, the GUTS bus offers limited to no weekend service, with no early-morning shuttles and longer gaps between trips. 

If opening the Hoya Transit program to all is financially unsustainable, there are other options available. Since launching the pilot program at American University in 2016, 46 universities have participated in the U-Pass program. U-Pass offers students unlimited rides on Metrorail and Metrobus throughout the semester for the equivalent of $1 a day, and universities include this cost in tuition. 

Anna Sabriá, a master’s student at George Washington University (GWU), said she has benefited from GWU’s U-Pass program.

“From morning internship commutes to weekend nightlife, the U-Pass has made D.C. far more accessible for me as a student,” Sabriá told The Hoya. “I don’t have to stress about constantly reloading my card, especially with the unlimited trips. As someone who rides the Metro between two and four times a day, the U-Pass program saves me hundreds of dollars in transportation costs a semester, allowing me to spend that money on actually experiencing the city.”

Calling on the university to implement U-Pass is not novel — in May 2021 a referendum passed that urged the university to implement the Metro U-Pass Program, with 84% of voters in favor. 

A university spokesperson said Georgetown has explored ways to support students seeking transit across the city.

“In previous years, we have worked with GUSA and GradGov to explore the idea of joining Metro’s U-Pass program,” wrote the university spokesperson. “Because U-Pass requires enrollment of all students within a school or campus — whether they use the pass or not — and has historically been funded as an addition to student tuition bills with other universities, Georgetown does not currently participate in the program. U-Pass does not allow for individual students to opt in or out. We are always open to feedback and further exploration of new transit options.”

While survey data should be collected to reflect the current student body’s sentiment, it is clear that transportation accessibility has long been an important concern for students. It is overwhelmingly clear that students want Georgetown to offer an easily accessible transportation program. 

Saahil Rao (SFS ’27) interned on Capitol Hill, and reflected on how commuting into the city via Metro would be made easier with the U-Pass. 

“I’ve entered the lottery twice now, and I received the credit once,” Rao wrote to The Hoya. “I was able to get my Metro fees covered by the federal government through an existing subsidy program, but it would be nice if Georgetown could just do that automatically for all students and allow them not to have to worry about that extra step, especially since GW students get a U pass.”

Touting “The D.C. Advantage” in its advertising materials, Georgetown is proud of its connection to greater D.C. By expanding its “downtown footprint” through the development of the Capitol Campus, Georgetown has proven it understands the value of students experiencing downtown D.C. fully. With this in mind, it is time for the university to transition away from the WMATA pilot program and offer a transportation option that is accessible to all students, not just a lucky few. 

The Hoya’s Editorial Board is composed of six students and is chaired by the senior opinion editors. Editorials reflect only the beliefs of a majority of the board and are not representative of The Hoya or any individual member of the board.