Senior Transit service to be discontinued

August 20 marks Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) “Change Day,” or the date it rolls out route and service changes throughout the state. Brigham City officials have worked with UTA to make minor adjustments to local Route F638, which will make Senior Transit services redundant. The last day of Senior Transit service will be Friday, September 1.

Seniors who choose to ride UTA’s revised route will have access to the places most commonly served by Senior Transit. The route runs in a counter-clockwise loop and stops at the Brigham City Community Center, the hospital, Walmart, BC House, and more.

The elimination of Senior Transit has been under consideration for some time. As Mayor DJ Bott worked with City staff to identify possible cuts in expenses, they recognized that Brigham City taxpayers have essentially been paying for the same service twice. Brigham City residents have paid sales tax since 1997 to subsidize UTA service in the area. This tax is different from the 0.25% sales tax that will be on the November ballot for possible elimination.

“We set out over a year ago to identify any City services that were being duplicated,” Mayor DJ Bott said. “We were honestly pleasantly surprised that Brigham City residents have been paying for a UTA service but not fully utilizing it for over 10 years.”

Current users of Senior Transit who choose to utilize UTA will need to adjust to differences in cost, route, days of service, and the scheduling process.

Cost. Currently, Senior Transit requests $2 per day per rider, although the donation is voluntary. In the 2021-22 fiscal year, the city collected $561 from riders. UTA’s regular fare is $2.50 per ride, or $5 round-trip. Most Senior Transit users will likely qualify for UTA’s reduced fares, which are $1.25 per ride.

Riders with disabilities can apply for UTA’s paratransit program, which provides expanded service depending on individual need and ability. Those who qualify may receive a free pass for paratransit services.

Route. Route F638 begins at the hospital and goes south to Walmart, then east to Highway 89/Main Street. From there, it goes north on Main with short detours near the USU Brigham City campus and the Community Center. The bus will turn west on 700 North and then south on 500 West, ending back at the hospital. It completes one loop every hour.

UTA Route F638 is a “flex” route, meaning that while the stops are fixed, a rider can schedule a pickup at a location within ¾ miles of the established route. Deviations, as they are known, must be scheduled at least 2 hours in advance and cost an additional $1.25 on top of the regular fare. The deviation fee is not subject to reduced rates.

Route F638 makes an exception to the ¾-mile rule in that it deviates all the way to 600 South and Highway 89 in Willard if needed. While the published schedule does have times listed at the various stops, the bus can run 10-15 minutes behind to accommodate deviations.

The service does not extend to Corinne or other areas that have previously been served by Senior Transit.

Mayor Bott acknowledged there will be “a difference in services and a bit of a learning curve,” but also stated the change “will be more beneficial in the long run.”

Days of service. UTA’s route runs Monday through Friday, while Senior Transit only runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Neither route is available on the weekends or on holidays.

Scheduling. Riders will no longer contact the Community Center to schedule a ride. Instead, they will use UTA’s published schedule, available online at rideuta.com or on paper at the Community Center. Riders who want to schedule a deviation will call UTA at 801-287-7433 between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Riders must call the day before to schedule deviations prior to 11 a.m.

The Brigham City Community Center will host a class on Wednesday, August 30, at 6:00 p.m. to explain the changes and how to access services. UTA representatives will be on hand to answer questions. Community Center staff and UTA will also coordinate group training on the bus itself if needed.

Mayor Bott expressed appreciation for UTA representatives who collaborated with the city. “Our partners at UTA have been amazing, super supportive, and helpful as we identified a need to be addressed and an overlooked and under-used solution,” he said. “I want to express my gratitude for their invaluable help.”