From Deseret News archives:
Proposed UTA budget would pare down Salt Lake bus service
Price of fuel, overdue route review are the reasons for change
If the budget is approved, some routes will be eliminated, but UTA officials say they will cover the reduced service with other bus routes. The route changes will be done in April; public hearings will precede the changes.
The purpose behind rearranging the routes is two-fold, according to Dave Huber, Salt Lake regional general manager for UTA. First, because of rising fuel prices, UTA is facing a budget shortfall for 2006. Second, bus routes in the Salt Lake area haven't received a face lift for decades.
"We haven't really even surgically looked at the Salt Lake bus service for almost 30 years," he said. "There are many routes today that have been running that long and they should be running. But, in many areas, the demographic and geographic service area has changed."
Huber is hopeful the consolidation of routes will not affect ridership. The Salt Lake bus area has a goal to increase annual ridership by 203,000.
Plans to do a complete redesign of the Salt Lake-area bus system are still not ready to be implemented, according to Huber. Reasons to postpone the redesign include lack of funding and fluctuating development plans in downtown Salt Lake City.
Next Wednesday, the UTA Board of Trustees will approve or reject preliminary budget plans for the transit agency. UTA General Manager John Inglish is proposing to implement a temporary 25-cent surcharge on all bus and light rail trips to help pay for rising fuel prices.
The surcharge could go into effect as early as December this year. UTA is still debating the proposal, in addition to the logistics of collecting the surcharge.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
Comments
- Tuesday on TV 12:13 a.m.
- 'Dancing' will fill out finale 12:13 a.m.
- I'll take doc's advice on mammogram 12:12 a.m.
- Editorial: Winning fans' hearts 12:11 a.m.
- Afterthoughts 12:11 a.m.
- Letters: Barzee case like Jeffs' 12:11 a.m.
- Letters: Trump card for believers 12:11 a.m.
- Letters: Can't erase genetics 12:11 a.m.
- Letters: Rushing to judge Palin 12:11 a.m.
- Letters: MLS not BCS 12:11 a.m.
- Real Champions
- Bronco, Kyle rubber match
- Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
- BYU's Lamb, Jorgensen reprimanded
- RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
- Plenty on line for rivalry game
- Time for big matchups in WAC, MWC
- BCS at-large bids up for grabs
- Hall, Johnson matchup key
- Fans greet returning Real Salt Lake
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
213 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
195 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
133 - BYU records with win
132 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
131 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
109 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
103 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
99
Associated Press Personal Finance Writer Candice Choi offers gift-giving...
I hope Donny wins. His humility, courage and humor are very refreshing....
but it is Provo's Craig Drury polishing his 8 rings as head coach.
Like the newspaper said, "...the first time since '84 national...
I think Mya did not deserve the nine's from the 3 judges on her free dance -...
College football will NEVER revert to the old bowl system. It has gone too...
We don't need another layer of government, which obviously represents more...
And this surprises someone? It's too easy in Utah to deceive the masses....
We cannot afford this monstrosity! Any claims that it will save money are...
I grew up in SLC and have always been a huge BYU fan. Honestly I can say most...
These are not essential government programs needed to ensure our national...


You can be the first to comment on this story.