(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) A UTA bus picks up passengers in West Valley City, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.
I have used the UTA transport system for almost my entire life, whether at school, work or social events, and it has not only helped me, but also my whole family. I don’t come from a very wealthy background and live in a low-income neighborhood where my mother’s job barely allows us to get by.
Needless to say, there have been times in my life when my family did not have access or the privilege of owning a car and we relied on the UTA transportation system to get us from point A to point B. And although this transportation alternative is much cheaper than owning a car, purchasing a HIVE bus pass each month increases costs.
Currently, my mom pays for three HIVE bus passes, which cost $42 a month, bringing her monthly total to $126.
My intention in writing this letter is to make the transportation manager aware that this cost is far too high and difficult to maintain when we could have free transportation.
In February this year, the UTA transport system did a trial experiment and made all transport fares free for the public.
The result of this experiment had amazing results that proved that Utah residents who constantly use this mode of transportation have benefited from free fares.
In the statistical report, it also showed that 14,800 more people were using UTA than usual each weekday, with a 16% increase compared to cyclists who already use UTA and need it on a daily basis. . It is clear, based on the results of the experiment, that free UTA tariff benefited only everyone, without negative results.
Having the free UTA transportation system for residents is great, and while we help each other, we also save the environment from pollution and preserve our Earth for our future parents.
Angelica Crandall, Salt Lake City
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