A group of about 50 residents gathered outside of UTA's offices here Wednesday afternoon to hand out what they call a "failing" grade for the route redesign - which features "fast bus" service to TRAX stations and downtown Salt Lake City, but also the loss of numerous "fixed" routes that transit-dependent residents say they relied on. Also eliminated: at least some paratransit service that was attached to those now-defunct routes.

"UTA doesn't get the routes right and it doesn't live up to its mission statement," said resident Troy Roker, who is blind and partially paralyzed. "We can't just get up and go to work. We rely on the UTA system."

Linda Parsons, of the advocacy group Jobs with Justice, says low-income wage earners who depend on the bus have been put in a difficult situation because long-established routes have been eliminated.

"Workers are being left out of this. They're having to leave hours earlier or have had to quit jobs because of these changes," she said.

Bottom line, charges Barbara Toomer, state organizer for ADAPT Utah, "It is clear that UTA prefers its main constituents to be potential riders who own two to three cars for whom public transit is a commuter choice. They have overlooked and neglected the needs of riders who are dependent on buses for their daily transportation needs. In doing so, they have earned a failing grade."

Justin Jones, UTA's bus route-redesign manager, calls that accusation untrue. He says the route changes remain a work in progress and that the overhaul is far from finished.

"We've been meeting with these groups, we've made changes based upon what they have requested and we'll continue to make changes because frankly, we agree," Jones said. "These folks face serious challenges and UTA wants to be part of the solution."

The UTA official promised more dialogue, in the form of a "region-wide discussion," about transportation needs for low-income residents and those with disabilities.

"This population is only going to grow and we have a limited budget," Jones said. "We need their help in finding answers."

Until then, he says bashing the Salt Lake County route redesign is premature.

"It's tough to be given a failing grade when we haven't even had a pop quiz," Jones said.

But Toomer and the others gathered Wednesday are seeking more immediate and far-reaching action, calling for UTA to return to the original fixed-route system as soon as possible.

"We just want to be treated like everybody else," said resident Kas Williams.