UTA and TRAX rates rising today; regular fare is $1.75

The cost for a one-way ride on a regular Utah Transit Authority bus or TRAX train will increase by five to 15 cents today, with riders on premium bus routes seeing a 75 cent rate hike.

The increases are the second in a trio of fare hikes approved last year by the UTA Board of Trustees. The first increase happened last July and the third is scheduled to happen next January. With today's fare hikes, regular adult riders on the bus or TRAX will pay $1.75 for a one-way ride, while seniors and the disabled will pay 85 cents.

The premium express routes, which are mostly commuter buses, will now cost riders $4 for a one-way ride.

Disabled and low-income riders are upset over the changes.

"The impact will be on people who can't get out for whatever reason, whether to go shopping or to see a movie down the corner, avail themselves of free entertainment or go to a meeting," said Barbara Toomer with the Disabled Rights Action Committee. "All these things that people do to keep well, alive and wealthy will be severely limited."

Toomer was one of several people who protested to the UTA board last year when it approved the fare hikes.

UTA spokeswoman Carrie Bohnsack-Ware said Monday her employer was aware the impact the rate increases would have on people. But it was needed to help maintain service and pay for costs such as gasoline, maintenance and the operation of train cars or the bus, she said.

"It's getting more and more expensive for the operation and maintenance of the fleet of TRAX trains and buses," she said. "We've tried to do the most fair fare increase that we can to try to impact people as little as possible."

For more information, log on to: www.rideuta.com. Under the heading that says "UTA Happenings," there is a link that says "Fare Increases January 1."

When finished with the rate hikes on Jan. 1, 2009, UTA plans the cost for a regular adult one-way ride to be $2.00.

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com