[NFB-Utah] UTA will reduce service temporarily amid virus spread

[nfbutah at gmail.com]

The below message is regarding changes in the scheduling of UTA beginning April 5. If you have questions please contact UTA at 801-RIDE-UTA (743-3882)

 

Everette,

 

Thank you for reaching out for clarification.  I can certainly appreciate that these temporary service changes are of concern to the Blind community.  As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic is a dynamic situation and UTA is working diligently to serve our customer while also protecting their safety, as well as that of our operators.  There has been a significant reduction in ridership since the onset of the pandemic ranging from 61.3% to 77.6% depending on the service. Given this decrease in ridership, the temporary service changes deal primarily with changes in frequency of service, with minimal impact on days and general hours of service.  It is worth noting that the greatest reduction in ridership (77.6%) was among those using UTA’s paratransit service.  Because the DOT ADA standards require complementary paratransit service be provided during the same hours and days as fixed route services, the temporary changes will have minimal impact on the times/days during which paratransit services are available.  

 

Here is what I know regarding the temporary service reduction:

 

As part of our efforts to keep everyone safe and ensure fiscal responsibility, UTA is temporarily reducing service beginning April 5, 2020. Our decision to temporarily reduce service did not come easy. However, after evaluating the situation and closely monitoring our ridership, we have decided to focus our resources on providing critical service for those who depend on UTA for their essential travel needs at this time.

Please note that the temporary reduced service schedule replaces our previously planned April Change Day schedule. Beginning March 31, riders will be able to plan trips that take place April 5, taking into account the temporary reduced service schedule.

While specific schedules are not yet available, the following overall changes are being implemented:

 

*         Weekday Service:

o   Fixed Route Bus

*  Maintaining hours of service on most routes

*  Adjusting frequency on most 15 and 30 minute bus routes

*  UVX frequency adjusting from 6 minutes to 15 minutes

*  Suspending some commuter bus routes

o   TRAX:  Adjusting frequency from 15 minutes to 30 minutes

o   FrontRunner:  Adjusting frequency from 30 minutes to 60 minutes

 

*         Saturday Service:

o   Fixed Route Bus

*  Adjusting frequency of service on 15 minute bus routes to 30 minutes

*  UVX maintaining 15 minute frequency

*  All other bus routes retaining Saturday schedule

o   TRAX:  Adjusting frequency from 20 minutes to 30 minutes

o   FrontRunner:  Maintaining current Saturday schedule

 

*         Sunday Service:

o   Fixed Route Bus:  All routes retaining Sunday schedule

o   TRAX:  Adjusting frequency from 20 minutes to 30 minutes

o   Frontrunner: No service as currently on Sundays

 

The above information is from a memo sent out by UTA’s Executive Director Carolyn Gonot.  I do not have any additional details at this time, but would be happy to forward any additional details I receive.  

 

You are more than welcome to share the above information with any/all members of the disability community.  

 

I hope you are well and safe :) 

 

Sincerely,

Cherissa Alldredge

ADA Compliance Officer

Utah Transit Authority