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Show CttRONidc Paqe UTA Folr Tuesday, extends handicapped service New bus allows home ApRil 26, 1988 g Items for the Chronicle events calendar should be submitted two days in advance, by 4 p.m. The items should be typed or printed legibly on a form obtained from the Chronicle, pick-up- s By Bruce R. Burningham Chronicle staff writer Today 9:55 a.m., Hinckley Institute of Politics "Political-EconomConditions in Italy," OSH 255. -- 11 a.m., Hinckley Institute of Politics Film, The Candidate, OSH 255. -- Noon, International Week Lecture, Union Ballroom. -- Noon, Women's Resource Center Sack Lunch Seminar, "Retelling the Story: Recovering and Rewriting Our Own Life Stories," Stephanie Pace, Union 293. --4 p.m., Chemistry Seminar, "Unusual Phosphorous Ligands Bound to Osmium," Warren Roper, University of Auckland, New Zealand, ic Disabled students may find it easier to get to the University of Utah now that the Utah Transit Authority has purchased 15 new "low rider" buses. The UTA announced Friday. that FlexTrans, a service designed to aid the handicapped, will be available to U. students and the public in July. The new system is designed as a regular curb-to-cur- b service to "bridge the gap between many transportation disabled individuals and mass transit accessibility," UTA spokesman Craig Rasmussen said. 'The problem is that many people can- not get from the house to the bus curb. FlexTrans will make it possible for the individual to get from the curb in front of their residence to the nearest bus stop, to bus take advantage of the lift-equipp- ed services," Rasmussen said. The new buses differ from regular UTA buses because they are only eight inches from the ground. When a passenger wishes to enter or exit, a ramp extends and the bus "kneels" to within three inches creating an easy slope for the passenger. "Nobody even comes close to building something equal to FlexTrans. We're not just fulfilling some federal requirement; we really want to create a viable service for our disabled passengers," Rasmussen said. Federal requirements stipulate that transit systems may decide the service they want to provide. However, they must spend at least 3 percent of the total operating budget on handicapped service. This service must also operate during the same hours as regular service and the fare must be the same. ,..,,,., FlesTrans, a UTA service to aid the handicapped, will be available to the public in July. "The minimum would have been to simply install wheelchair lifts on all buses, but this just doesn't address the question of curb accessibility. We have met the 3 percent requirement and more," Rasmussen said. The FlexTrans buses will circulate throughout Salt Lake County, pick up transportation disabled passengers who request services and converge at a central point where passengers can make the necessary transfers to complete their trips. If passengers want to travel to downtown Salt Lake City, they may transfer to e one of the wheelchair-accessibl-e buses serving the area. Passengers whose destination is located close to their homes will not need to transfer buses. To request service, disabled residents will be able to call UTA's FlexTrans fixed-rout- Customer Service department. UTA encourages passengers to give 24 to 48 hours advance notice, although service will be available on shorter notice if necessary. To be eligible for service, passengers need to complete and sign a registration form certifying that their disablility prevents them from using regular. UTA service. They will then be issued a FlexTrans Rider Card. The charge will be 50 cents, which is equal to UTA's regular fare. Transfers onto other FlexTrans or regular buses is free. riders may accompany And disabled riders by paying the same fare. Each vehicle costs $120,000 and annual operating costs will total $600,000. Olga Nadeau, coordinator of the U. Center of Handicapped Student Services, said she is pleased with the new system. 'The more they improve the system so someone in a wheelchair can get around,, the better it is for everyone. The system non-disabl- ed should be available to anyone in a wheelchair," she said. Nadeau said while she did not personally push for the new system, she did encourage students to attend meetings where they could voice their opinions. "The individual students had a far greater impact than my going there and talking," she said. Low-Coordina- te HEB 2006. 4 p.m., Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Seminar, Series A, "Oxide Synthesis: Tailored Porosity, Part II," Stephen C. Carniglia, W.W. EMCB 103. 7 p.m., Hispanic Film Festival, Children of Violence, OSH Auditorium. -- 8 p.m., "Singin' In The Rain," Pioneer Memorial Theatre. Tomorrow -- 7:30 a.m., Surgery Grand Rounds, "Diagnosis and Management of Abdominal Trauma," Robert Zeppa, University of Miami School of Medicine. -- Noon, Women's Resource some Processes of Small Metal Clusters," Stephen K. Loh. -- 8 p.m., "Singin' In The Rain," Pioneer Memorial Theatre. onyblowwur cares Challenge the notion that weekends should be celebrated with dinner and a movie. Come to Symphony Hall and experience the exhilarating sound of the Utah Symphony. "Everyon- e- not just classical music lovers-- will enjoy this new series featuring popular and light classical music. bright ideas? M?v6, BROADWAY BOUND! with soprano Victoria Morris, Christopher Wilkins conducting. Symphony Hall, 8 p.m. Tickets $8 to $15, students $3. Box office: 533-640- IMhSymphony think kinko's street 200 university 583-34- 80 Open 24 Hours 200 University St. 583-34- 80 n BE Center Lunch With a Lawyer, "Debt Collectors: How Far Can They Push You? How Can You Push Back?," Bruce Plenk, Utah Legal Services. -- 7:30 p.m., "Oxidation and CID Letthellah Need Clyde, A rr 7. |
