HERRIMAN — Beginning Monday, the Utah Transit Authority will begin "deviated routes" -- or buses that turn off the main route to pick people up at locations within three-quarters of a mile of the route for an extra $1 -- in three areas: Herriman, Syracuse/Hooper and American Fork/Alpine.
UTA calls the deviated service "Flex" routes. Flex buses are smaller shuttle-style vans. UTA currently has Flex routes in Brigham City, Draper, Sandy, Riverton, Tooele and Grantsville. UTA began adding Flex routes in the fall when the Board of Trustees, in a cost-saving measure, voted to stop providing paratransit service to disabled riders who live beyond three-quarters of a mile of an existing fixed bus or train route. The change affected disabled riders who live in places such as Herriman, and the Flex routes are an attempt to mitigate that. But you don't have to be disabled to take advantage of the service.
Riders can wait at a stop for the bus, but if you want to be picked up or dropped off via deviation, you need to give UTA a two-hour lead time and schedule it by calling (801) 287-7433. Maps of the routes can be found at rideuta.com.
The F547 Herriman travels around Herriman to the Riverton Hospital and Wal-Mart with transfers to the F518 Riverton flex route.
The F628 Syracuse/Hooper travels around Syracuse and Hooper to the Roy and Clearfield FrontRunner stations.
The F868 American Fork/Alpine travels around American Fork and Alpine, including the American Fork Hospital, LDS Church's Mount Timpanogos Temple, Lone Peak High School and the American Fork Park & Ride lot.