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by NinevehDinha from Salt Lake City, UT

Last Post 2 days, 2 hours Ago


Fare Hike: Is it Fair?
Oct 1, 2008 | 6:49 AM
Category: News
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People use public transportation to SAVE MONEY, but UTA is increasing its fares. So I want your thoughts for the show. Here's a breakdown of all the fare hikes.

2 hour bus or trax ride is up 24 cents, total now $2.25 a ticket

Monthly bus or trax pass increased 8 bucks, $74.50 now the new total

Frontrunner pass is up 15 dollars = $175/month

Paratransit is up 25 cents. The ticket will now cost you $2.75

I will be talking to a UTA spokesperson in just a few minutes..

Why the increase? GAS PRICES. UTA says because of the cost of gas, they have no choice but to increas fares. Do you think that's fair?

Crude Oil prices are down, and Utah is now below the national average when it comes to the price for a gallon of gas. UTA has said that it would reconsider the fare hike if gas prices came back down...I'll be asking about that as well.

So here's what I want to know from you. Once again, is it fair to increase the fares? And if you're wondering who determines the price increase, it's the UTA board. Do you think the fare hikes should be determined by an independent company? Share your thoughts, and I'll try my best to share them at 8am!

Either way, feel free to leave your comments...thanks!

15 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 15
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NinevehDinha read my blog view my photos
Oct 1, 2008 | 7:22 AM

ADDED NOTE: Just talked to UTA and they say this is NOT a fare hike, it's a "fuel surcharge" which means it's adjustable. The surcharge could be done away with if gas prices stay within 3.00 to 3.99. and this latest increase was based on the summer's gas prices. BUT there will be a HIKE FARE in January. The same increase will be applied as this surcharge. I talked to some riders who say in short "why punish the people using public transportation when we're helping the enviornment?"
Okay, now your thoughts...
Mktavish read my blog view my photos
Oct 1, 2008 | 7:36 AM

If the increase was decided when the gas prices were at their highest ,but they decided to impliment them on a gradient scale so as not to impact the riders so harshly. Then I can see them needing to still raise the fair even though gas prices have come down.
They do have big plans to expand the light rails , and if this keeps them on schedule ,then I'm for it.
One other area I think they should raise fares, is for bike riders. It might cut down on so many bikeriders getting left behind. Believe me its very frustrateing.Its such a crapshoot as to wether youll catch your bus or not.
fourrunnerjames
Oct 1, 2008 | 8:23 AM

well it was once cheaper to use UTA to travel i only used traxx now i have to pay a fuel sur charge i thought traxx ran on electricity i will now go back to driving to work UTA shoul make records available to the public i see UTA busses idling 15 to 35 minuits at least 10 times a day now the public has to pay for it how about a boycot the public should avoid UTA for a couple of days and see what UTA does to help the public instead of gouging the public
FernRL
Oct 1, 2008 | 9:16 AM

The increase in rates is as fair as it is foolish.

If UTA wants to decrease ridership, then this is the way to do it.

If it would really come out further ahead by increasing ticket sales, particularly monthly passes, it should lower the price.

I know of those who already could car pool, with just the husband and wife and pay less than taking the train.

There is also the issue of time used in commuting. It takes my husband about twice as long to take the train and bus to work as to drive because it involves backtracking. He calculated that his average speed driving would have to be slower than 25 MPH, to take as long driving as using UTA.

So UTA needs to be more competitive with private transportation.
Mariposa_Xochipilli read my blog
Oct 1, 2008 | 10:22 AM

What's their profit margin?
NinevehDinha read my blog view my photos
Oct 1, 2008 | 11:19 AM

Everyone makes fair arguments...I'll use your thoughts tonight! Thanks for the input...
fourrunnerjames...if you and your fellow riders are planning on protesting the increase, let us know.
Again a lot of riders this morning said..."do I have a choice?"
akiame read my blog view my photos
Oct 1, 2008 | 2:03 PM

Roll it down to the bottom guy...

There will come a time when the bottom guy can't carry any more load!

Who is the bottom guy going to roll the weight down to?

--------------------------------------------

UTA increasing rates... What is the point in riding public transportation? You might as well spend the little bit more and drive your self, at least then you don't have to plan your life around the "schedule"... You can go where you want, when you want!!!
fourrunnerjames
Oct 1, 2008 | 2:57 PM

UTA will not release any info to the public relating to any profit margin and why traxx riders have to pay for the "fuel surcharge" now how fair is that the cost of living is so high its hard to survive and people can get to work less stressed by driving themselfs cause they dont have to worry about missing a bus adn you dont have to rush out the door 2 or 3 hours before work when driving yoursef to work takes 20 to 35 minutes if everyone riding UTA would not use UTA for a couple of days and carpool to work maybe it would get noticed by UTA depending on how much profit that UTA has already banked maybe it wouldnt effect UTA but its worth a try to get UTA to notice how much raising the fairs effects its riders
fourrunnerjames
Oct 1, 2008 | 3:04 PM

what about natural gas busses there is another issue natural gas is way cheaper then deisel fuel and alot of the busses are natural gas but yet all riders must pay a fuel surcharge and in january the fair goes up again on top of the "fuel surcharge" someone is making alot of money i work in an auto repair shop paid on commision only and alot of shops are suffering right now because no one can afford to have their vehicle fixed because prices are so high we have had 3 cars in the shop total since monday so how can people survive
akiame read my blog view my photos
Oct 1, 2008 | 4:00 PM

UTA won't release their profit margin to the public because they know it would outrage commuters to know how much of their money is actually going into DEEP UTA pockets...
frankal
Oct 1, 2008 | 4:38 PM

Ridership is up and so is the cost. I think the state should have to approve an surcharge before the UTA can charge it. If the cost of fuel goes down is the UTA going to reduce fares?? I think not, they will still charge whatever the riders are willing to pay.
Mariposa_Xochipilli read my blog
Oct 1, 2008 | 5:18 PM

akiame,

My point exactly! Why should their profit margin suffer with the rest of us?!

Mariposa Xochipilli
Navian
Oct 2, 2008 | 10:26 AM

I think UTA needs to take a lesson on running a public transportation system, from Tri-Met (Portland Oregon's public transportation).

http://trimet.org/index.shtml
Shelly13 read my blog view my photos
Oct 2, 2008 | 10:47 AM

(Iloveit!`)so much
codromystro read my blog
Oct 2, 2008 | 3:07 PM

Totally unfair! I'm still baffled at how they can heard us all on hard plastic seats
with no seat belt at all and metal bars in front of you. But the seat belt laws for drivers are quite different. For that money I want a cushy seat and a seat belt. Buses run the most risk of accidents but the rail isn't infallible. After all the hike is supposed to be due to gassing up their fleet. How about we make them safe?
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NinevehDinha

I start off every morning waking up our viewers, and it's always a pleasure! I'm happy to be part of Fox 13's Good Day Utah team. I anchor bright and early from 5 to 6 a.m. You can also catch me on the streets reporting for both GDU and Live at 11.

Member Since: 2/20/2007


 

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