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Customers are upset as UTA considers raising fares
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As a quasi-governmental agency UTA brings the worst of the private sector and the worst of government to the table. Their bus routes are a joke unless you are trying to get to the U of U or downtown. UTA wouldn't last six months if it weren't funded in part by tax dollars.
It is ridiculous that a city the size of Salt Lake has such a poor bus system. UTA gets away with it because the majority of people drive cars to get around. People may start to care a lot more if gasoline hits $6-$8/gallon by the end of the year like many analysts are predicting.
The internal struggle of whether to get to work in a car that gets 15 miles to the gallon, or take a 1.5 hour bus ride with several 1/4 mile walks will be a tough decision.
UTA has only two options in this scenario: raise more revenue to cover expenses, or cut costs. In general, the only way they can cut costs is to cut back on service. And we all remember how popular service cutbacks are with the community.
Bus service is not provided by magic; it must be paid for somehow. Unless you want to raise taxes again, it will have to be at the farebox.
How much fuel was used in the month before riders were on Frontrunner but it was running all day long?
Raising fares, again, places the burden on the companies who buy passes for employees, students, and low-income workers who rely on public transportation to maintain or improve their lifestyle. These are not trivial needs. Public funding should support public transportation and transportation services should be more adequately matched to public needs.
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Cut his obscenely high salary (which he isnt worth anyway). It may not eliminate the need for an increase, but the increase might not have to be so much.
Inglish is always shedding crocadile tears and claiming he feels our pain, so let's see him put his money where his mouth is. He claims he tries to spread the increases around fairly, then let's see him take a hit too. Especially since he doesnt take his own buses to work. I'm sure he has a fuel guzzling personal vehicle, most likely paid for by UTA, to drive around in.