SALT LAKE CITY - UTA raised its prices for bus, TRAX and FrontRunner service on Monday, despite Utah's public transportation fares already being among the most expensive in the nation.
A monthly UTA pass will now cost $83.75, up from $78.50. For a monthly premium FrontRunner pass, it's $198 instead of $189. For a single day trip on bus or TRAX, the price has jumped from $2.35 to $2.50.
UTA says this increase is the third and final increase after they decided to raise fares back in 2011. They say the additional money will go to general operating costs of a growing transportation system.
Passengers say the rising fares could discourage some commuters from riding public transportation.
"I think it's crazy if they want more people to ride the bus and reduce the air pollution and then they keep raising the fare, and raising the fare and raising the fare," said Randy Wright, a UTA passenger.
But UTA spokesperson Steve Allnat says that ridership has actually increased in the last year despite those higher costs.
"In the last year, ridership has generally increase on all of our modes by approximately 14 percent so ridership is up. Of course, we've opened new lines so that accounts for part of it," Allnat said.
Those new lines include an extended FrontRunner track from Salt Lake City to Provo and an airport TRAX line set to open next month.
For a complete fare schedule, go to www.rideuta.com.
