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"Openness" and "transparency" were words used repeatedly by State Representative Greg Hughes prior to his recent election as chairman of the Utah Transit Authority Board of Trustees. Now that he's in charge, we trust he'll inculcate the meaning of those words in the day-to-day operation of UTA.
In a recent meeting with the KSL Editorial Board, Hughes said UTA has been afflicted with a "collusion perception." He's right! Suspicion surrounds the quasi-government agency with its billion dollar dealings. Salaries for top UTA brass, location of TRAX and Frontrunner stations, and potential conflicts of interest involving board members including Hughes himself, are among the issues that have generated public mistrust of the organization.
As Hughes told KSL, the only way to battle the collusion perception is transparency. KSL trusts Hughes will keep his word. Committees should no longer meet in closed sessions. There should be full cooperation as the Office of the Legislative Auditor General explores conflict of interest issues. And UTA should promptly respond favorably to media requests for vital public information.
As UTA continues to develop one of the premier mass transit systems in the nation, the taxpayers who are footing the bill not only deserve openness and transparency . . . they also demand it.
