Bus riders in the Salt Lake Valley will see big changes in their bus service Sunday as the Utah Transit Authority implements $1.1 million in route changes and cuts.
Affected riders are none too pleased. The changes appear to illustrate a larger issue of inequality in service between east- and west-side residents, said Kevin Lundy, chair of the Kearns Community Council.
"We've got such a few number of buses, that when they start cutting it's a big deal," said Lundy. "Look at the saturation we have versus other parts of the valley. It hurts."
Beginning Sunday, Route 35 in Kearns will be eliminated. It's one of four routes being cut as part of a record 53 route changes — the most made in the Salt Lake area since 1999, UTA said. Other routes cut are in West Valley, South Salt Lake and Poplar Grove, a west-side neighborhood in Salt Lake City.
The routes were cut based on ridership and cost, said Dave Huber, Salt Lake regional general manager for UTA. Other routes throughout the valley were realigned to reduce overlaps and inefficiencies in service.
"We spread the hurt around a little bit, if you want to call it that," Huber said.
UTA began looking to reduce its Salt Lake bus service last October. Its 2006 budget for fuel was $6 million more than anticipated, and $1.8 million in net service cuts were proposed while $1.1 million in cuts were actually made.
Huber said that some routes were enhanced as part of a review of bus service in the valley. A type of fast bus, or express service, was added to areas like Riverton, Herriman and Draper. Some "concessions" were even made in the Kearns area as a result of discussions with UTA, said Lundy.
"They did address some of the issues we had," he said.
Mike Harman, chair of the Poplar Grove community council, said residents were "pleasantly surprised" at the changes made in that area.
But service is still not enough, west-side community leaders say.
"I can get around without bus lines, but can people trying to get to a day labor site live without them?" said Bruce Myers, pastor at Westvale Presbyterian in West Valley. "Can people going to their jobs live without them? I think we need to have a concern for them."
On Sunday and Monday, volunteers from UTA will be at bus stops and TRAX stations to assist riders with questions about route changes. Details about the changes have been posted in all UTA buses and customer service representatives will be available to answer questions, said UTA spokesman Justin Jones.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com