![]() So, we want to enhance the change day process any way we can, but we also want people to understand that they can actually go even further than that." That's something that needs to happen over a longer span of time. "If someone says, 'We need a new train line,' we can't do that by change day. "(There) are opportunities to influence the transit system for years in the future," Callison said. Simply put, service in the Avenues - or anywhere within the 80 municipalities the agency works in - can be altered at any time in the future, often using feedback from riders and residents. There are also long-range service plans that go beyond five years in the future. The document is sort of a miniature master plan that guides future change day ideas. One example of this is a new five-year plan that is going to be modified this year, Callison said. Waters told the board of trustees that her team would review the input process just to ensure they are reaching everyone before changes are made.īut UTA doesn't only accept public comments for change day the agency also stores feedback to help plan out future projects and service changes. Callison believes one of the main issues is that Avenues residents weren't aware because the neighborhood wasn't involved in many recent UTA route changes, so people living in the area either ignored signs about it or weren't actively looking at the proposal when it was announced in March. The experience in the Avenues may have also altered the community input process. The goal is to still finalize the August change day plan in the coming weeks so that UTA can inform riders well in advance of adjustments coming on Aug. This is partially why it's taking longer to decide on final alterations to the plan. UTA received quite a few comments in support of the plan during a Greater Avenues Community Council meeting last week it also received plenty of negative comments. The other issue they've run into is not everyone in the Avenues is opposed to the idea of frequent service in the neighborhood. So, we have to weigh those concerns," Callison said. "For example, if the bus stayed on 6th Avenue, we would still be dealing with the same, pretty steep topography on that street, so there wouldn't really be any benefit for passengers with disabilities or anyone who is trying to wait for a bus there. Agency officials argue that any drastic changes would reduce the speed at which Avenues riders can reach other parts of Salt Lake County or even southern Davis County. If any changes are made in the plan for the Avenues, it's likely to be similar. Most of the changes are small, such as the location of bus stops and adjustments to routes based on over 300 public comments it received earlier this year. The original plan was released in March, but Callison said that adjustments have since been made. The service map runs from Centerville to North Salt Lake in the county. Meanwhile, the UTA on Demand service is set to replace bus service in Tooele County, and the on-demand service will expand into southern parts of Davis County, too. The major changes are primarily the result of labor shortages across the UTA system. The entire plan for this August calls for ending 22 bus routes and merging some into the remaining routes, like ending Route 41 in West Valley City because Route 47 will absorb it. The agency regularly adjusts its routes, especially at the beginning and end of the ski season and the start of school in August. "We may ultimately decide that it's not possible to (accept) any of the proposals at this time."Ĭallison and Megan Waters, UTA's manager of community engagement, presented UTA's board of trustees with an update on the drastic August route changes during an agency board meeting. We hope to have an official response back to the community soon," he said, adding that he's not sure what, if any modifications would be in the Avenues. The agency is still reviewing alternate service proposals made by residents in opposition to the plan before the entire plan is finalized. ![]() However, some backlash from residents in Salt Lake City's Avenues neighborhood won't stop plans for a new 15-minute service in the area, said Eric Callison, the agency's manager of service planning. SALT LAKE CITY - Utah Transit Authority's proposed large-scale route changes are receiving some last-minute tweaks before they will be implemented in August. ![]() Reading or replaying the story in itsĪrchived form does not constitute a republication of the story. Only for your personal, non-commercial use. ![]()
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