Bus riders protest tonight
Group angry over fare hikes, proposed redesign of routes
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.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
Comments
- Luxury home market stalls 12:02 p.m.
- Kirk Douglas classic on DVD 11:38 a.m.
- Zion fire moving southeast 11:36 a.m.
- More school-money than expected 11:24 a.m.
- Virginia 'Freedman's' project done 11:12 a.m.
- Teen relive Mormon trek 11:12 a.m.
- Oldest American to scale Mount Everest 11:07 a.m.
- Knicks sign first-round pick 10:59 a.m.
- Armstrong third, Leipheimer fourthe 10:58 a.m.
- 6.0 quake in China 10:43 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- Man spots his stolen car
- Jazz rookies quiet Thunder youngsters
- LDS seminary principal arrested
248 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match158
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits141
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?139
- Blazers may offer Millsap a contract124
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza115
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake98
- Fairness of BCS debated81
- Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett76
- Letters: Single-payer system best75
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Latest comments
Quit lying to people and the Lord.
I was in Bro. Pratts seminary class as a sophomore! I had always gone to...
@Jordanres: If Roy plays 40 minutes a night and he won't be playing with...
I feel bad for the girl and much worse for this fellow's poor wife and kids....
I am outraged. Outraged, I say. Won't somebody please think of the children?
While I agree if those people who were "there" make accurate statements then...
President Hinckley warned that Pornography was a tragic evil amongst us and I...
The fact that there was no "malicious intent" is no justification. ...
Of course it was fake. Most things in Utah are fake: the people, the...
Good for Milsap, but whatever he does, he's got to get rid of this Ara...
You can be the first to comment on this story.