From Deseret News archives:
Commuters want better bus service
About 150 men and women from Herriman, Riverton, Bluffdale and South Jordan signed a petition requesting additional bus trips to and from Salt Lake City last week, plus a new regular bus route that would have hourly trips to a light-rail stop.
"I would like to see regular bus service," said Jan Davis, who organized the petition. "That's all we need. It's not asking too much, either."
Davis is an office worker in the Salt Lake City compliance division. She moved to Herriman five years ago from West Valley City, where she had grown accustomed to relying on public transit.
The problem of too few buses has been important to Davis since then, causing her concern for personal safety and mobility and troubling her environmentally friendly conscience.
Every bus to and from the southwestern part of the valley is stuffed to capacity, leaving standing room only even in 65 mph traffic, UTA and Davis agree. Except for commuting times in the morning and evening, no bus service in the southwest valley is available.
But Riverton Mayor Bill Applegarth, who once rode a bus to the capital city daily, continues to work toward better transit options.
"The only kind of busing we have here, basically, is busing to move people downtown," he said. "It isn't adequate they have focused on busing for the workers, but there's a huge hole in service for our people who are older or who do not have a car."
Herriman Mayor Crane Lynn has also taken a keen interest in the problem. Both men have pledged to meet with petitioners to explain city efforts and to work toward solutions.
"It may take us some time but the plans are in place to make sure that what they want happens," he said.
UTA is aware of the problem, said company spokeswoman Carrie Bohnsack-Ware. The quasi-public corporation is planning to add a fifth bus traveling to and from the area on weekdays beginning Dec. 14.
Beyond that, funding for improvements is unavailable due to a $7.5 million shortfall in sales tax revenue, Bohnsack-Ware said. Future plans could include extending the planned Mid-Jordan light-rail line into Herriman.
Recent comments
UTA just needs to add yet another fuel surcharge next mont, even...
UTA waste | Nov. 2, 2008 at 11:16 a.m.
I agree bus service should be improved. Once while my car was broken...
Jeff | Nov. 2, 2008 at 7:01 a.m.
The UTA and TRAX are not public transportation services that taxes...
Bob G | Nov. 2, 2008 at 4:30 a.m.
- 3A: Hurricane 24, Park City 19 2:29 a.m.
- GameDay back in the MWC 2:19 a.m.
- Westminster campus briefs 1:49 a.m.
- SUU campus briefs 1:48 a.m.
- Dixie campus briefs 1:47 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake gameday 1:33 a.m.
- 5A: Bingham rolls to title game 12:59 a.m.
- Aggies hope for Spartan cure 12:57 a.m.
- 5A: Miners pull tricks to win 12:56 a.m.
- 5A: Davis runs over Hunter 12:54 a.m.
- Williams leaves, won't play tonight
- Unga family is making its mark
- Selfishness to blame for Jazz woes?
- Study: Divorce likely when wife ill
- ESPN suddenly loves MWC
- Trial begins in toddler death
- Historically, Utes have owned TCU
- Two killed in Iron County crash
- Man killed during 3rd I-15 crash
- 4A: Thunderbirds dynasty lives on
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
348 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
162 - Will state consider gay rights law?
145 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - Celtics crush Jazz
103 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
102 - Hatch empathizes with Muslims
88
If you are looking for a bird on the cheap, the following specials from...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
True. It's not terribly funny and if it has any effect on society, it won't...
What else would you expect to find in a book called "The Founders on Religion"?
Ok not to be rude here, but check the stats, Hinds isnt first in yards and...
t-hinds = best player in utah
Anonymous: Was that English? I though conservatives believed if you are in...
Wow! Glad the Lord kept you safe. Separate comment: That was a horrible...
I have never been to a Utah high school game before as I am not from the...
It would behoove the above commenters to recall that religion, including our...
Only 8000 attendance? BYU had 16,000+ tonight. What is wrong with Ute fans?...
ian you are the 3A MVP If you win next week so just do it that would be nice....
