Utah County discovers transit

Deseret Morning News editorial
Published: Tuesday, May 9, 2006 8:30 p.m. MDT
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The good news coming out of Utah County last week was that elected leaders finally are beginning to think seriously about mass transit. While the rest of the Wasatch Front has been forging ahead for many years with light rail and commuter rail projects, Utah County's leaders have been in a state of perpetual denial. But now they appear to understand. Their county is growing at an astounding rate, and it isn't possible to pave commuters out of the traffic jams that already have begun.

The Mountainland Regional Planning Committee unveiled a report called Transit Vision 2030. It's a long-term strategy document that includes radical ideas such as having local governments operate their own bus services, in effect taking over the role the Utah Transit Authority current plays.

And that was rather strange news.

Utah County leaders complain that UTA has in recent years cut back on service while focusing on Brigham Young University and Utah Valley State College. From strictly a business point of view, that was a wise decision. It also was no surprise to local leaders, who several years ago said they wanted UTA to be smarter in the way it met demands. College students are more likely to ride buses than are other residents, and their student ID cards often provide them with discounted transit tickets. The route between BYU and UVSC is the busiest in UTA's system.

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But this does nothing to help condition the rest of the population to the opportunities that mass transit could provide. For that, local leaders must bear much of the responsibility.

They have fostered apathy toward transit. They have consistently refused to allow public votes on tax increases that would provide greater service — increases that were approved elsewhere along the Wasatch Front. They have given little indication that they want UTA to increase its services there, either with buses or trains.

Still, it is true that services tend to be the most efficient when they are controlled at levels of government closest to the people, where leaders feel an urgent sense of accountability and riders feel they can give direct feedback over routes and timetables. Local bus service could be effective, especially if it is modeled after Logan's successful system.

What is essential, however, is that UTA continue to provide services between Utah and Salt Lake counties, and that Utah County finally get on board with a commuter rail system that links the Wasatch Front.

Last week's report, which took 11 months to complete, was at least 11 years overdue. Utah County has wasted a lot of time ignoring the need for transit. It needs to decide quickly what it should do, then proceed with a sense of real commitment.

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