UTA surprised by itself

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Today, as I stood out in the cold wind and rain, waiting for the 517 Utah Transit Authority bus that was due at the Blind Center at 5:28 p.m. but didn't arrive until 5:46, I thought of something I learned in school, the 6-P rule: proper prior planning prevents poor performance. For two weeks after UTA's route schedule "change day," the 517 bus was routinely 8-10 minutes late at 250 N. 1950 West.

It didn't matter if you wanted the 5:28 p.m., the 3:28 or the 4:58 — all were late. We complained. UTA fixed that by making buses routinely 18-25 minutes late.

UTA's "customer service" told us the delays are because the road construction on North Temple "surprised" them, and they can't fix 517's schedule until December on the next change day. This road construction for the airport TRAX line is of UTA's doing — and it surprised them?

Shame on UTA, particularly its planning and "customer service" staff. They should all be fired. Riding the bus will make this a long, cold winter.

Dave McNeill

South Jordan