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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority will focus on providing better service on a budget while continuing efforts to restore public trust in 2017, according to president and CEO Jerry Benson.
Benson is expected to make the agency’s case for approval of a $387.1 million budget for the coming year at a committee meeting Wednesday. The amount represents a 2.9 percent increase from this year and is expected to include funding for development of a bus-rapid transit project in Utah County and increasing operational productivity.
“This year’s budget reflects UTA’s goals to demonstrate public trust and accountability, running an efficient and sustainable transit system, focusing on service efficiency and the customer experience, and promoting successful transit-oriented communities,” Benson said. “The budget we are developing reflects the agency’s recent work to identify our 'true norths' of service, people, environment, community and stewardship.”
The proposals are “a vision for not just this year, but the future,” he added.
As UTA has shifted from constructing large capital rail projects, the proposed budget focuses on improved and increased transit service at relatively low costs, Benson said.
“The 2017 operating budget that staff is asking the board to approve contains a modest increase of $11 million, with $4.2 million of that coming from the (Proposition) 1 sales tax increase in Davis and Weber counties,” he said, adding that those funds will be used exclusively for service improvements in that region.
“Our capitol revenue is projected to increase by about $44 million, largely because of federal money anticipated for the Provo/Orem (bus-rapid transit) project,” Benson said. “With that said, UTA is not projecting to have to use any reserve funds.”
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UTA approves budget and more service in Davis, Weber, Tooele counties
The Utah Transit Authority board of trustees approved a $376 million budget that includes $4.7 million for service improvements in three northern Utah counties that voted in favor of Proposition 1 last November.A hearing is scheduled next month to accept public input and comments on the proposed budget, with the final budget to be presented in December for the board’s approval.
Meanwhile, UTA's board of trustees is expected to study measures to enhance accountability at the Wednesday meeting as the panel considers possible ways to enhance the public’s trust in the agency, the board and the process by which business is conducted and decisions are made.
Additionally, the trustees will debate and consider the merits of the agency‘s proposed participation in transit planning for the Cottonwood Canyons in conjunction with the Mountain Accord for the upcoming ski season.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at noon Wednesday at UTA's headquarters, 669 W. 200 South. It is open to the public.
