Transit ridership jumps
Logan, UTA rank in top 10 of 86 agencies in a November survey
The survey highlighted the Utah Transit Authority and Logan Transit District as having some of the nation's top ridership increases in November, a month after gas prices fell from around $3 per gallon to about $2.25. Of the 86 agencies surveyed, UTA ranked ninth for ridership gain. Logan ranked fourth.
"I just think a lot of folks gave (transit) a try when gas prices increased," said Erika Shubin, UTA spokeswoman. "I think maybe they found it worked for their schedules, was fast and comfortable, and they opted to stay with it."
Overall weekday ridership at UTA increased 17.7 percent in November 2005 compared to November 2004, according to the APTA survey. Weekday ridership on TRAX increased 45 percent — a record gain for the agency, said Shubin.
"For other systems, I don't know, but we have not seen increases that dramatic until now," she said.
While January numbers have yet to be calculated, Shubin says overall weekday ridership increased 15.4 percent in December. TRAX ridership rose 46 percent.
"They are famous for taking little short one or two month trends out of context and forgetting to mention how things have changed," said Michael Packard, a Sandy engineer and highway advocate. "They pick out a couple months and something looks really good."
Packard supports money being spent on highways versus rail transit.
Lane Beattie, president of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, said funding both transit and new roads is critical to Utah's economy. "It's a win win, both environmentally and from a business standpoint," he said of transit. "We can't build our way out of congestion as the population grows. Without transit, it really handicaps us."
Over the next 25 years, UTA has plans to build four TRAX extensions, a commuter rail system from Brigham City to Payson and bus rapid transit in Weber, Davis, Salt Lake and Utah counties. At current funding levels, only one TRAX extension could be built within the next eight years.
Additional funding could mean all four TRAX extensions are built in the next six years. The chamber is now debating whether to push for a ballot initiative asking the public to raise taxes for transit. Transportation funding is one of the chamber's top three priorities this legislative session.
"It's absolutely critical, and this is the proof of the pudding," said Beattie about the APTA survey. "It shows that Utah is ready for (TRAX extensions) and the reality is, we need it in the Salt Lake Valley."
To see the complete APTA ridership survey, log on to www.apta.com. The association also tracks quarterly ridership statistics from about 300 transit agencies.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
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