The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced that Carnegie Mellon University Heinz College is the newest university to benefit from Metro's University Pass program, providing students with safe and affordable transportation.

U-Pass allows students unlimited riding privileges on Metrobus and Metrorail at a substantially discounted price.

At Carnegie Mellon University Heinz College, students have a valuable opportunity to take public policy courses while holding apprenticeships in Washington, DC. WMATA's U-Pass offers an affordable option to travel between classes, internships, jobs, and other activities for about $1 per student per day.

"We are excited to welcome Carnegie Mellon to our successful U-Pass program," said WMATA GM/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. "Students who are studying and working in the nation's capital deserve safe and affordable travel to help fulfill their ambitions and launch their careers."

In March, WMATA's Board of Directors voted unanimously to extend the successful U-Pass program for a second year through June 2018.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with the DC Metro U-Pass program this coming year to provide a convenient and cost saving transportation option to our Carnegie Mellon University/Heinz College Washington DC students," said Marie Farrell Coleman executive director, Heinz College. "Our grad students — aspiring public interest leaders who are living, working and studying in D.C. this year – will benefit greatly from the opportunity to travel throughout the district using U-Pass."

Carnegie Mellon joins American University (AU) and Washington College of Law, the first university to launch the U-Pass program on campus last year.

The U-Pass program is available to any accredited college or university in the WMATA service area. The decision to participate is made by each university community.

Last year, more than 10,000 AU and Washington College of Law students took 1.5 million rides on Metrorail and Metrobus through the U-Pass program.