University students are one step closer to getting more affordable transit fare.

Students from the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg pitched their plan for a U-pass to a city committee Monday.

The plan would see each student pay no more than $170 per year for a transit pass that would cover the university school year.

The pass fee would be mandatory except for students living outside of the city or students with a disability who were unable to take public transit.

Josh Mason of the U of M students’ union argued the pass is necessary and will be a big benefit to students when rapid transit is expanded.

“As the southwest corridor is being constructed, we see this as an excellent complement to that,” said Mason. “We’ll see new infrastructure in place and students riding on a day-to-day basis.”

Student representatives also pointed out that transit ridership has doubled in other cities, such as Edmonton, after introducing a U-pass program.