LOCAL NEWS
UTA cutting back bus routes due to short-staffing
Sep 28, 2022, 1:54 PM | Updated: 8:52 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Transit Authority is making emergency bus route changes in popular ski areas and across the Wasatch Front to take affect on upcoming change day on Dec. 11.
Due to staffing shortages, UTA’s Carl Arky said most of the route changes include a decrease in frequency, as well as some ski resort routes not going as far into the valley as they used to.
“We’re trying to find a balance here, to try and make sure we can maintain the service so it doesn’t go away completely, but we have to make some adjustments because we simply don’t have enough bus operators right now,” Arky said.
He said UTA is at the point that it is untenable to keep asking bus drivers to work overtime or ask supervisors to jump on a shift to keep those bus schedules going. The changes are geared to solve a long-term problem, and may last until the next change day in August 2023.
Changes also include employee benefits like paid training, starting at $20 an hour, in effort to recruit more bus operators and eventually restore the bus schedule that Arky said UTA took pride in for years.
Due to staffing shortages, UTA is making emergency adjustments to BUS SERVICE on our December 11th Change Day.
We take service reductions very seriously and recognize the impact it will have to those who rely on us.
For more info on these changes see https://t.co/W6WS9oob5l. pic.twitter.com/fLhcOWz8W8
— Utah Transit Authority – UTA (@RideUTA) September 28, 2022
“The unemployment rate is 2% so there’s not a large pool of talent for us to pick from,” Arky said. “Everyone is having a hard time finding employees to work for them so, we’re faced with that and we’re doing our best to hire, to recruit, to retain employees.”
More information on the changes in Davis, Weber, Salt Lake, and Summit counties is available on RideUTA website.
Arky said UTA wants to hear from anyone interested. Employment information is found on the careers website.