The Utah Transit Authority is making big changes this Sunday to its Salt Lake County bus system, with the aim of boosting declining ridership and making the system more convenient.
Bus riders, however, aren't sold on the idea. Some worry the changes will force people to walk longer distances to bus stops and require more transfers from bus to bus, or bus to TRAX. Those changes will create particular hardships for the elderly and disabled, the critics say.
Express bus riders say they were promised more routes but UTA reneged. Other riders believe UTA is trying to woo money from the "rich in Sandy" at the expense of low-income riders who need the bus to get to hospitals, the grocery store or church.
"This is more of an economic thing for (UTA) and for their business," said Laura Anderson, president of the residents' association at Holladay's Preston Place apartment complex. "It's not about the needs of the people."
UTA officials said they are aware of concerns, but they believe riders will adjust to the changes and support them. The agency did similar redesigns in parts of Davis County, Utah and Weber counties, and ridership went up, said Justin Jones, head of the UTA bus system redesign project. The Utah County redesign was done in 2000, the Weber and Davis ones followed in 2002.
"In the end, we feel strongly this bus system will provide more service to more people," Jones said. "There are some who will be impacted, and we recognize that.
"We hope they can make it to walk an extra block."
UTA first unveiled its redesign plan to the public last February. The agency held several weeks of public hearings and gathered just under 3,000 comments from residents. Nearly 65 percent of the comments opposed the changes, while 35 percent expressed support.
In May, UTA revised the plan and restored several routes that had been proposed for elimination. Fifty-five of the 80 routes the agency had originally proposed were changed under the revision. The redesign that riders will see on Sunday will include more routes that run every 15 minutes, a few more Express buses, and a shifting of the entire system out of neighborhoods and onto busier roads.
By shifting the bus off smaller streets, UTA believes it will save time for riders. Now, instead of having multiple stops in a neighborhood with only a few people getting on at each stop, they can all meet at one location, Jones said.
Steve Sokol, who rides a UTA Express bus from Herriman to Salt Lake City for work, said he believes UTA is making false claims about frequency and better service. The agency first promised he would have more routes on his bus line but then eliminated those extra buses, he said.
"They're advertising it as a big change, but when it comes to our line, they proposed changes and didn't actually make any," he said. "It just seems funny that they're making a big push about improving this, and nothing really changed."
UTA said it needed to take the extra routes on the Express line to help fund routes cut in Salt Lake City. As for the success of the redesign, Jones said his agency will watch to see if ridership increases and then use that to judge the success.
"If people choose to ride it, then we know it's a success," he said.
UTA volunteers to help
This Sunday, the Utah Transit Authority is implementing a redesign of its entire Salt Lake County bus system. On Monday, dozens of UTA volunteers will be at bus and TRAX locations throughout the county to answer questions and distribute route maps and new bus schedules.
Volunteers will be at the following locations:
TRAX stations
Valley Fair Mall bus stops
200 S. State
400 S. Main, in front of the Matheson Courthouse
West Valley City Hall bus stops
Salt Lake Community College Redwood Road campus
Cottonwood Mall bus stops
2000 E. 9400 South Park and Ride Lot
University of Utah Union Building
For more information or to request a new schedule, call: 743-3882, or log on to www.rideuta.com
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com