Rising fuel costs hurting, helping economy in Utah

But for Access RV, a recreational vehicle and trailer sales and rental company based in Salt Lake City, the combined need for recreation and rising gas prices has had a positive effect on his business.

"It hasn't affected us in a negative way at all. This will be our best year ever" — better than their previous record year, which was in 2002, when the Winter Olympics came to Salt Lake City, rental manager Scott Jones said. "We've been nervous about it in the past. . . . (But) The desire and need for vacation outweighs the price of gas. The need for recreation is so strong."

The fact that RVs get an average of only 7 to 13 miles per gallon is obvious to customers, though. Rather than taking a weeklong or monthlongtrip to a far-away destination, travelers are visiting closer destinations, such as southern Utah and Yellowstone, for a short weekend trip. Automatic discounts are offered by Access RV on longer trips, so a regular supply of the 50-unit fleet and a healthy profit from smaller vacations are contributing to the company's banner year.

Jones said RV rental companies in places without many scenic destinations are hurting, but Salt Lake City's proximity to some of the nation's best tourism spots has boosted business. Sales are so good that Access RV recently opened a new branch in Jackson, Wyo.

Scott Jones, with Access RV, says rising gas prices is not the giant expense people make it out to be.

The business "is really destination-driven," he said. "We have a real advantage here in Salt Lake. And we haven't seen any indication of it slowing down." Besides, the price increase isn't that much, he said.

"When you figure a total (weekend) trip and it affects a price by 15 cents, maybe about 50 bucks total? It's not near as much as people think it is."

Mass transit up

Even so, high gas prices have prompted many drivers to go to a cheaper alternative — public transportation.

"Ridership is up, and we're excited," said Utah Transit Authority spokesman Justin Jones. "People are taking advantage of public transit now. It continues to go up, the higher the gas prices go up."

Already, ridership on TRAX has jumped 12 percent from last year. UTA is adding an express route for south Utah County to downtown Salt Lake City and additional routes to serve Salt Lake Community College. Jones said UTA is even working on several promotions to attract riders who are intimidated by gas prices.

"We're working on ways to kind of capitalize on this," he said. "If anyone could find a silver lining, we want to find one and hopefully bring people to the bus."