UTA OKs limiting paratransit service, hiking fares

The Utah Transit Authority board of trustees on Wednesday approved changes to paratransit service that will limit service and increase fares for some disabled riders.

The proposal will limit pickups to locations that are within three-quarters of a mile of existing fixed-route and train services. Riders need to get to a location within three-quarters of a mile to receive paratransit services if they live outside the area, or if they need to get to a location outside the area.

UTA will no longer offer a monthly unlimited paratransit pass for $84. It will sell 10- or 20-ride punch cards — a new change to the proposal, first announced publicly in late March — but the cards will not be discounted from the current fare of $2.50 per one-way ride.

"We felt like there still needed to be a way for people to pay for their ride without cash," UTA spokesman Gerry Carpenter said.

To soften the blow to people outside the three-quarters of a mile area, UTA is phasing in Flex buses, which deviate off a main route and pick up passengers — disabled and others — for $1 extra.

UTA won't raise fares for the remaining months of 2009, although general manager John Inglish said a fare increase is likely in January 2010. The resolution that trustees approved Wednesday warned fares could be twice the regular adult fare of $2 per trip. UTA's paratransit service must fall within guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the ADA allows $4 per trip, according to UTA.

Disabled passengers who addressed the trustees Wednesday were most disappointed with the discontinuation of the unlimited paratransit pass.

Trent Florence needs paratransit to get from home in West Jordan to work in West Valley City five days a week. He needs paratransit to run errands, too.

"They're too concerned about money," Florence said. "Too money-happy."

Inglish has said UTA must reduce expenses because of depressed tax revenues during the recession. Paratransit costs $15 million a year.

UTA manager of government relations Justin Jones said the average paratransit trip costs $35, and some people with unlimited passes used the service more than 100 times a month, costing UTA on average $3,500.

Mickey Adelhardt of Bountiful describes herself as an active disabled senior. She attends church in Salt Lake City several times a week and volunteers at the state Capitol and on Antelope Island. She also is on UTA's Committee for Accessible Transportation, has regular doctor appointments and swims for physical therapy. If she is picked up on paratransit, taken to church, taken to the pool and then taken home, the trip will cost $7.50. Going to and from the grocery store is $5. "It adds up," she said.

"UTA did go beyond the ADA recommendations for 20 years," she said. "We made our lives around it."

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