UTA surcharge plan faces protest

Low-income advocates plan to be out today protesting a proposal by the Utah Transit Authority to implement a temporary 25-cent surcharge on one-way transit rides.

The protest is scheduled before a 2:30 meeting of the UTA Board of Trustees, who will discuss the hike during talks about UTA's preliminary 2006 budget.

"If you're a low income person and unemployed, transportation is the biggest obstacle to getting work and finding independence," said Bill Tibbitts, director of the Anti-Hunger Action Committee. "UTA needs to do something to help the unemployed find work. I can't think of anything they would do that would be a bigger step in the wrong direction."

To draw attention, Tibbitts said protestors will wear black and carry a miniature coffin — props used to "mourn the untimely death of affordable public transportation in Utah."

"To some, 25-cents sounds like nothing," said Tibbitts. "If you're someone who has to sacrifice to get a (bus) pass, those quarters add up."

John Inglish, UTA general manager, said he isn't sure why Tibbitts and his group are protesting, adding the surcharge is a tentative idea that will not impact passes given to low-income providers, the disabled or seniors.

UTA contracts with homeless and low-income providers to give discounted and free passes.

"There are many agencies dealing with people in this condition of life and we're willing to work with them and find ways to make transportation affordable," Inglish said. "I don't know why they're doing this, other than a need for publicity."

Inglish says the surcharge is needed to cover $6 million in increased fuel costs for the next year.

"The resources we presently have will not cover a $6 million increase in fuel," said Inglish. "Either we'll have to cut services or increase revenues or find new inefficiencies.

"Bottom line, there has to be coverage for that increased fuel cost."

UTA will give final approval to their 2006 budget in December.

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com