Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- UTA has an idea of what to expect if gas prices go over $4 a gallon. The agency saw its biggest ridership in September of 2008 when gas hit $4.10 per gallon just a few months before that.
"If prices continue to climb here, we may not only meet that, but beat that record," said UTA spokesman Gerry Carpenter.
Carpenter says ridership spikes when gas prices quickly rise, but when prices go up slowly, drivers don't seem to notice. Officials were already expecting an 8- to 10-percent increase in ridership anyway when two new TRAX lines open in August. But with gas prices zipping up, ridership could likely go up higher than that.
We are committed to adding about $4 million in new service this year, which will amount to $12 million in new service next year. Most of that's going to be in the form of rail.
–Gerry Carpenter
Carpenter says the TRAX cars UTA plans on using in its new lines can be used before the new lines open, if need be.
"Many of those vehicles are finishing up the testing process. So, if [gas] prices continue to rise and we see more and more people wanting to ride on our trains here in the next few months, we'll have additional cars to add to our capacity," he said.
Unfortunately, UTA is looking at higher expenses because of not just rising fuel prices, but higher costs to maintain their fleet. Also, it has committed funds to future projects.
Carpenter said, "We are committed to adding about $4 million in new service this year, which will amount to $12 million in new service next year. Most of that's going to be in the form of rail."
On Wednesday, the Board of Trustees will vote on a rate increase proposal that will go into effect May 1 of this year, if approved. It has one fare increase every year for the next three years, but it would change how UTA implements its fuel surcharge.
"Under the new proposal, that would activate when the average price of diesel fuel rises above $4 a gallon for three months consecutively," Carpenter said.
If approved, the base rate for a single adult rider would go up to $2.25 in May, then it would go up to $2.35 next year and up to $2.50 in 2013.
Email: pnelson@ksl.com
