TRAX and bus ridership soars

TRAX and bus ridership is soaring despite climbing fares.

The Utah Transit Authority says weekday TRAX ridership was about 52,000 in August. That's up 27 percent from a year ago. Bus ridership is up 18 percent.

But TRAX and bus transit will cost more money this week. Wednesday the basic fare goes up to $2.25 thanks to another fuel surcharge. It's the second 25-cent surcharge imposed this year for fuel costs.

But only a few riders we talked to seem to mind.

"Yeah, that's not good," said a woman named Angie.

But Christy pointed out, "It's still cheaper than gas."

A man named Jesse agreed. "It still would be a little cheaper than gas, if I had a car," he told us.

Monthly passes also are going up in October. A monthly bus or TRAX pass will go up $8 to $74.50, and a monthly FrontRunner pass will increase $15, to $175 a month. Paratransit rides for disabled customers will jump to $2.75, from $2.50.

UTA says fares will go up another $.25 in January. But one of the 25-cent surcharges could be repealed next spring if diesel prices hold steady against any further increases.

Last week, for the first time since April, the U.S. Department of Energy listed the region's diesel price below $4 a gallon at $3.96. If the price averages less than $4 through the October-December quarter, then the second fuel surcharge would disappear in April.

E-mail: aadams@ksl.com

(The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Related topics