Having worked for the federal government for a very long time, I well understand budgets and budget constraints. To this end, any agency must triage and prioritize allocations to get the greatest return on investment and to provide the greatest impact for the greatest number of people. UTA’s new 209 bus line in downtown Salt Lake City does neither.
I understand that, in theory, providing bus service from 4 a.m. to midnight every 7.5 minutes will capture more ridership than a pared down schedule might, but in practice, no one rides this line and UTA’s return on investment is poor. I have never heard the term “ghost-buses” until the 209.
I recommend a review and/or outside audit of UTA’s budget and priorities, particularly in light of diminished service in the Cottonwood Canyons. It is well known that traffic in the Cottonwoods has become exponentially worse in the recent years; a high optic and unpopular decision to cut services there should be reconsidered.
In summary, why cut services in places that want and need them when you run services in places that do not?
Drew Hardesty, Salt Lake City
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