Cindy Vega is legally blind. She relies on a walking stick, her guide dog and the Utah Transit Authority's Paratransit service.

A proposed redesign of UTA's bus service in Salt Lake County and a recommended fare increase may severely limit her ability to get around, Vega said Wednesday during a public comment period in front of the UTA Board of Trustees.

The fare increases range from 25 cents to $1.50 for a one-way trip. The redesign cuts the number of routes in Salt Lake County from about 90 to 54. Originally, UTA had said it would cut the routes from 117 to 54, but the agency changed the numbers after discovering several routes it had initially counted were actually in Davis County.

For Vega, the redesign would take away her ability to ride a bus to her parents' home in Cottonwood Heights, Vega said. The buses that currently serve that area are being moved, and under federal law, she can't use Paratransit if a regular bus route is within three-quarters of a mile from her destination.

UTA's proposed fare increases also would eliminate unlimited monthly service for Paratransit users and replace that with a 60- or 30-trip punch card.

The cost: $76 for 60 trips, $44 for 30 trips. The unlimited monthly passes cost $69.

"Sixty times is not very many," said Vickie Jaquier, who is legally blind. She told the UTA board members that she would like them to spend a month with a blindfold on, and then hopefully they would understand the impacts of the redesign and fare increases.

About 20 other people spoke against the redesign and bus cuts. Most were members of the Disabled Rights Action Committee, a Utah group that assists disabled people and pushes for equality.

UTA proposed the redesign in February, and the fare increases were proposed in early March.

Public hearings about the redesign have been held this month, and a public-comment period on the changes will end Saturday. Hearings about the fare increases began this week and will end April 18.

John Inglish, UTA general manager, said that the transit agency is aware of concerns and is working on solutions. The whole purpose of the redesign is to give the community better, faster and more reliable service, he said. The redesign takes several routes out of east- and west-side neighborhoods and puts them on busier streets, but with more frequent service.

Inglish said the fare increases are needed to help keep up with costs. No adjustments or changes to the fare increase or redesign have been announced, and Inglish said nothing will be done until after the public comment periods and after UTA has had a chance to review public input.

"I'm convinced we're on the right track," he said. "But we've got to make adjustments."

Jerry Costley, executive director of the Disabled Rights Action Committee, told trustees on Wednesday that he is unconvinced that UTA will make changes.

"What we are being told is, 'Trust us,"' he said. "I'm sorry. We're fresh out of trust."

For more information about the UTA redesign and fare increases, log on to www/rideuta.com

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com