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SALT LAKE CITY -- A new citizens coalition wants a criminal investigation of the Utah Transit Authority (UTA).
The group, a coalition of taxpayer advocates, government accountability groups and local citizens, is calling itself FIXUTA.
It held a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the State Capitol to announce the creation of a new website, FIXUTA.com.
The group was joined by Rep. Janice Fisher, (D) West Valley City, who said she'd sent a letter to both the Utah Attorney General and the Salt Lake County District Attorney calling for an investigation of the transit agency.
"The questions we're asking the AG to investigate: Was the law broken?" asked Fisher. "Have UTA board members profited off of the business of transit in Utah, and if so how much?"
The questions we're asking the AG to investigate: Was the law broken?
–Rep. Janice Fisher
Both the Attorney General's office and Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said they'd review the letter and the allegations carefully.
The call for the probe comes after an audit by the Legislative Auditor General office released in December of 2010. It found violations of Utah law may have occurred, and recommended the issue be forwarded to the Attorney General.
UTA Spokesman Justin Jones rejected suggestions the agency deserved further scrutiny, pointing to efforts by UTA to open up board meetings and place more documents on its website.
"The Utah Transit Authority is one of the best managed transit agencies in the country," Jones said. "We're doing things that other cities are just jealous of, frankly. The community has great value and trust in UTA and will continue to do so."
Members of the FIXUTA coalition said they were troubled by a broad range of recent controversies, regarding the discontinuation of some bus routes, what it described as excessive salaries and bonuses for executives, and questions of conflicts of interest on the agency's board.
Draper resident Deb Wangsgard said she initially got involved after controversy erupted over the selection of a site in Draper for a new Frontrunner station in 2009. She said she joined the new group because of "the antics of UTA and all of the other things that factor in. We just felt like it was time to stand up and do something about it."
Email: jdaley@ksl.com
