This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
"There will be no UTA services on the 4th of July." A communal groan rolls over the inside of the number 54 bus, westbound.
I am sitting next to five people, with different reasons why they need the buses to run during the fourth. Many must work on the 4th of July, and for some it's their only way to see family or to engage with the community. And some planned on taking UTA to see fireworks.
July is one of the worst months for air pollution in Utah, and UTA has been great enough to offer a free week of transit use. That being said, the 4th of July is a workday for many and the 4th of July activities are a great way to get people out of their cars. But it's more than that. It's about service for those who depend upon buses and trains for mobility and their livelihood.
What do we say to the widow, the single mother, the fiscally responsible student, the swing-shift worker, when they find out they're stranded and miles from home? UTA should be looking out for them, because they are, in fact, their most loyal customers.
Service everywhere, all the time, everyone.
Alex Cragun
Taylorsville