Bus riders protest tonight

A group of local bus riders is planning a protest tonight at the Salt Lake City Main Library over fare increases and a bus redesign recommended by the Utah Transit Authority.

The protest will begin at 6:30 p.m. The protest is being sponsored by the Crossroads Urban Center, a low-income advocacy group in Salt Lake City. At the same time, UTA is scheduled to hold a public hearing about the fare increases, in the library's fourth-floor auditorium.

UTA plans increases in bus fares ranging from 25 cents to $1.50 per ride. As part of the fare hikes, UTA is also proposing a $2.50 base fare for FrontRunner commuter rail, with a 50 cent price increase for every station a rider passes. Commuter rail is expected to open in early 2008 and will run from Pleasant View in Weber County to Salt Lake City.

The maximum cost to ride commuter rail will be $5.50 for a one-way trip.

With the redesign, UTA will decrease the number of routes in Salt Lake County from about 90 to 54.

The redesign proposal was announced in February, and the fare increases in March. A public hearing about the redesign ended in late March. Public comment about the fare increases will end on April 18.

Protesters said they will be wearing long "Pinocchio" noses while gathered at the library. Pinocchio, a character in a book and Disney movie, grows a long, pointy nose because he lied.

"Bus riders feel that UTA officials have been deceptive about the extent to which they are planning to cut bus service and about the reasons for the proposed price increases," a press release about the protest said.

UTA officials say they have been nothing but open and honest about the fare increases and bus redesign. Two additional public hearings are planned after tonight's meeting:

• Tuesday, April 10, at the Tooele County Courthouse, 47 S. Main, 6:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, April 11, at the Provo City Library, Young Special Events Room 550 N. University Ave., 6:30 p.m.

Comments about the fare increases will also be accepted online at www.rideuta.com.

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com