Letter: UTA fare plan doesn't add up

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UTA "distance-based fares" ("UTA budget: No fare increases — and more service," Tribune, Oct. 23)? Either many riders will have to see a substantial fare increase to keep the bottom fare the same, or many riders will pay much less (though the whole question of "transfers" seems to be unaddressed).

Imagine that short rides would cost 50 cents each. Short rides would, then, have to increase to five for every one now to keep the total fare box revenue the same. Does anyone really believe that there are hordes of people sitting around thinking "I'd love to ride down the street a little ways if it only cost a half dollar"? And where would they all sit if they did turn out in those numbers?

But, anyway, the math certainly seems to suggest either that tons of people out in Draper and Daybreak are going to have to pay a lot more, that tons of central city people are, somehow, going to have to end up paying the same, or that UTA is going to have to go to "Plan B."

My experience tells me that UTA will take care of UTA, and that there will be a substantial cost that will have to be paid by someone.

Darrell Prows

Murray