Reader comments
For the disabled, patience necessary on the road

"'I don't mix my United Way stuff with my UTA stuff,' he [Hunter] said."

Then, sir, it's about time you did. This is inexcusable.

I live on 35th South and in the building that I live in there are a lot of people who rely on Paratransit. They do not get door service but rather have to go into the Swapmeet parking lot to meet it rain or snow.

I don't think it is right for uta to charge a disable person $4 one way when I can hop on the bus and do my shopping and get home for only $2 thanks to the transfers.

My husband is also in a wheelchair and luckily we are able to get to a bus stop that is somewhat close.

Personally I'm just waiting for businesses that claim to be wheelchair accessable become so. the disabled shouldn't have to wait for someone to open a door for them and at resteraunts that the tables are high enough for a person in a wheelchair to sit at it. You will not believe that number of businesses that claim to be disabled friendly when they're not especially for those in wheelchairs.

UTA wants it both ways.
They want to charge the disabled more.

Yet every disabled adult receives a free pass for 4-8 free rides each month (one way). And they are counted as used whether actually used or not. Many people don't even live within 5 miles of a stop.

They are using them to boost ridership numbers.

We now know that United Way does not support the poor,(Thank to Hunter) we need to all stop Donating.

Gerry Carpenter, Speaking for UTA say it will raise $600,000, it will greatly reduce ridership on Paratransit. UTA has Good Bus Service in Down Town Salt Lake City, Avenues and the University of Utah.

UTA needs to get Accessible Vans and Small Bus to go into Neighborhoods to Encourage People to take the Bus and take Individual's to the Main Bus Routes and Trax. UTA needs to Expand the Bus System Increase the Frequency of Buses and Lower the Fares.

This would reduce the Costs and needs for Paratransit. This would help reduce Traffic Grid Lock. This would be Transportation for all. Also Help Out Our ENVIRONMENT.

Voters Voted for a Improvement in the Transit System Not the Destruction to the Bus System.

UTA is not Following there own Mission!

Have they disclosed how many millions of dollars were dumped into the failed tap-on tap-off system? Those kiosks are a monument to stupidity.

If Uta is so worried about the budget, thus targeting the disabled for fare increases in paratransit, they could start saving money by first looking within their own company and fixing the scheduling problems so that 3 different buses aren't sent to the same place to pick up and carry 3 different individuals to the same apartment complex at the same time!
This to me seems a waste of money as well having a FlexTrans pick someone up, deliver them to the nearest bus stop so the rider can get off, hop on fixed route, ride a bus for 20 or so blocks and then get off the bus to catch the very same FlexTrans that delivered him to the bus 20 blocks earlier!
Go figure!