Transit changes require care

There's an old saying about carpentry that goes something like "measure twice, cut once." The Utah Transit Authority Board of Trustees needs to follow this axiom as it considers a redesign to its bus service as well and fare increases.

It's always dangerous to oversimplify, but transit riders generally can be lumped into two categories. They are people who because of age, disability or income cannot drive. Or they are people who use mass transit because it is economical and kinder to the environment.

As UTA trustees consider cutting numbers of routes and increasing fares, they need to be intensely cognizant of the needs of people who have no other transportation options. People with physical and visual disabilities rely heavily on bus service. Cuts in service could severely limit their ability to participate in the community, stay involved with their families and obtain health care services. While fare increases may appear minimal on paper, most people with disabilities have limited incomes. Even a small fare increase can pinch their pocketbooks.

Obviously, UTA has an obligation to operate in the black. Redesigning certain routes may result in financial efficiencies and improved bus service. That's would be the optimal outcome.

But care must be taken to ensure that people who rely on transit the most are not sidelined by this exercise. While the disability lobby has been most vocal about these proposed changes, these changes also impact seniors and youth who rely on mass transit. They also impact the working poor who cannot afford cars, motor fuel or insurance. They, too, could be hard pressed to cope with fare increases and substantial route changes that may hinder their ability to go to work.

The trustees face a difficult task in ensuring the financial viability of UTA for the long run while providing a level of service that meets the needs of transit users. But special consideration must be made of people who rely solely on mass transit.