OCR Text |
Show BB The Salt Lake Tribune Sunday, July 15, HH4 Mainstream With Wasatch Front Bus Merger Could Erase Invisible Point - of- Mountain Line By Frank Brunsman Tribune Staff Writer We would finally be mainstreamed with the rest of the Was-tac- h Front and the mystery of what is beyond the Point of the Mountain would disappear, Is the way Glen Halbe of Provo puts the possibility of Utah Transit Authority service for Orem and Provo. The time primary election voters may give approval to the UTA and a sales tax is a little bequarter-cen- t yond a month away, Aug. 21. A yu on the ballot would make the urban bus line connecting Ogden with frovo one of the nations longest routes and largest bus public transit systems. It would cross the four counties Weber, Davis, Salt Lake and Utah that constitute the major urbanized area of Utah. Polls Indicate Approval Preliminary polls indicated the measure was favored by a margin of more than 70 percent. Little opposition has developed during weeks of public hearings. But there have been some critics. For example, Rep. Samuel S. TaySalt Lake, has said about lor, the proposed merging of the Timpa-nogTransit District (TTA) with the that tax." However, Shirl Kemp, TTA chairman, said at another time that establishing a system independently would take about four to five years and cost taxpayers millions of dollars more than if the Timpanogoe district joins the UTA. Federal Money Lost We have lost more than 3 million of federal money because we did not have a transit system to qualify to receive it. We will lose another $4 million in the next few years if we dont establish a system he said. Paving the final step July 10 for the Aug. 21 vote, Provo and Orem city councils cast only one negative vote. That was by Provo Councilman Merrill Martin, who said he voted against the annexation application "because there are questions thnt need to be answered." Provo and Orem residents will be able to travel anywhere within the two communities for 50 cents during the peak commuting hours and for 40 cents the rest of the day, said Lynn Telford, UTA community relations director. Commuters will be able to travel to Salt Lake City express style for UTA: 32. In my opinion youre better off forming your own district system and operating it on your own. To be a part of UTA is a very bad mistake the worst thing you could do. Every person will be required to pay a tax, yet Plan January Start The plan, according to the community relations director, calls for service to begin in Provo and Orem in January with about 20 of UTAs newer buses. This will expand to a os not one will get one bus token from Special ErrantT Ruling l. Court OKs Payment A Utah State Tax Commission employee injured on her way to Salt Lake City to take computer terminal training should receive workmen's compensation because she was on a special errand for her employer, the Utah Supreme Court has held. The Utah court, which hadnt before dealt directly with the question, ruled that the training, though to the benefit of the employee, would also benefit the employer and was done with the employer's knowledge and encouragement. The Tax Commission had appealed a ruling of the Industrial Commission that was favorable to the employee, Shirley L. Fulton, a worker at the Tax Commissions Brigham City branch, explained Justice Richard C. Howe. In December 1982, Ms. Fulton was injured in an auto accident while driving in her own car to Salt Lake City to take computer training at the Salt Lake City office of the Tax Commission. She was in her own car after trying, then dropping, a pay car pool that had been suggested to her by the Sait Lake City office. The injuries were to keep her off work for eight months. State law provides that every employee who is injured in an accident arising out of or in the course of his employment, wheresoever such injury occurred, shall be covered for resulting losses. But there is an exception, called the coming and going rule, where compensation is denied for injuries suffered on the way to and from I work, the decision said. The court hasn,t previously tackled the question of whether injuries are compensable where the employee is away from the usual job site to take training. Justice Howe wrote. He noted that on appeal, the Tax Commission asserted Ms. Fulton was on her way to work, and was thus not eligible for coverage. But other jurisdictions have followed an emerging trend, which holds that an act outside an employees regular duties which is undertaken in good faith to advance the employers interests, whether or not the employees own ' assigned work is thereby furthered, is in the course of employment, Justice Howe noted. An exception to the exception that when on a special errand for the employer during a ride to or from work the employee is covered applies in this case, Justice Howe wrote for the unanimous court. Ms. Fulton had taken the training at the encouragement of her superiors, who provided her with time off her regular duties for the purpose and who intended to recompense her for travel expenses, the decision said. She was required to leave earlier than usual, and would net have wished to drive from Brigham City to Salt Lake during the winter months except for the opportunity of taking the training. She took her own car to be able to adjust her travel to the weather conditions, the decision explained. All of this qualified her for the special errand coverage, the decision said. fleet of 40 over the next three years, which is approximately the size of the Ogden area bus system, she said. Ray Miller, Provo-Oreproject manager, has said a main concern is to service the three main hubs: Brigham Young University, downtown Provo and the University Mall in Orem. When the system is in full gear, he said, a rider could get nearly anywhere in the ProvoOrem area with only one bus transfer. John C. Pingree, UTA general manager, said the tax increase would cost a family with an annual income of 825,000 about 22 a year to subsidize the local transit system. Starting costs are projected at m er 8600,000. 83.1 Million Revenue According to Mr. Pingree, the UTA projects sales tax revenues of about $2.6 million yearly and $520,000 in fares for total operating revenues of about $3.1 million if the transit system is implemented. With a combined ProvoOrem population of about 126,000, the two cities would be allowed two representatives on the UTA board of directors. According to TTA, the populations of Orem and Provo make the area the biggest in the West without a mass transit system. One of UTAs major objectives is to provide 85 percent f the Provo and Orem residents with bus service within three blocks of their homes. Local People Help Our desire is to see local people run the business in this area John M. Inglish, UTA operations director, said. To design service, UTA assigned five employees to work within the two communities. A UTA office is located at 1 E. Center St. in Provo. Among benefits outlined by Ms. Telford are that parents would be able to decrease the burden of being the family taxi. Employees and students will be able to save the $10 to $15 weekly it takes to fuel the private auto. And parking hassles can be avoided. Utah Transit Authority, she said, "has nearly 15 years of experience in providing public bus service. Ridership Up 8 In 1983, UTA caried 18 4 million riders and has, this year, gained an 8 percent increase in ridership. UTA passengers cite convenience and economy as the main reasons for taking the bus. Notably, UTAs buses run on schedule more than 92 percent of the time. In addition to regular bus service, UTA offers commuter express services, a carpooling program and transportation for the disabled. Operating in Salt Lake, Davis and Weber counties, UTA is one of the most public transit systems in the country. Approximatley 60 percent of UTAs operating budget comes from the local option sales tax of one quarter of one cent; the remainder is derived from the farebox and federal grant programs. Similar to Original Task The nonpartisan annexation voting process will be similar to many others UTA underwent in creating and operating funding the three-count- y district. In 1969, voters in Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake,' Murray, Midvale, y Sandy and Bingham voted for the formation of UTA. In 1970, the rest of the Salt Lake County voters accepted public transit services, creating a countywide district Three years later, Weber and Davis counties formally annexed and district made UTA a three-count- y Then followed the issue of funding UTA services. In 1974, local elected officials determined that an additional quarter-cen- t sales tax was the best way to pay for public transit. That put UTA back on the ballot Salt Lake and We- cost-efficie- city-bycit- her County voters approved the sales tax Increase that year, Davis County residents said yes the following year. Timpanogoe Transit Authority was created in 1978, but with minimal funding. Gareth Seastrand, a TTA board member, has said it is a moral obligation to provide public transportation for the elderly who cannot drive cars safely. He also contends it is wise to be prepared if fuel prices soar again. Outbreaks Linked to Centers Day Care Can Be Infectious A fivefold increase in the number of cases of hepatitis A reported this year in Weber County is symptomatic of a growing national public health roblem: Infectious disease in out-rea- centers. The great potential for problems is that we know day care will expand . . . Weve done very well in controlling our outbreaks but we just need to keep educating people on what they can do to prevent them, said Craig R. Nichols, state epidemiologist with the Utah Department of Health. Mr. Nichols recently returned from a national symposium in Minneapolis, Minn., convened to discuss strategies for controlling infectious diseases in day-car- e centers. In light of recommendations made at the symposium, the Utah Department of Health will be reviewing and looking at the Utah situation, including sanitation guidelines compiled by health officials for the Utah Department of Social Services, which licenses the centers, Mr. Nichols said. In the past two years, the department has documented center-base- d outbreaks of hepatitis in Weber and Utah counties, and outbreaks of shigellosis (a bacterial intestinal disease) in Weber, Utah and Salt Lake counties. Weber Countys problem with hepatitis is part of a "continual background level of infections at institutional day-car- e centers, according to Dr. Mark Nichols (no relation to Craig Nichols), director of the Weber-Morga- n Health Department. The de day-car- e partment projects that 130 cases will be reported by the end of 1984, two-thirof them from half of the areas 30 institutional day-car- e centers, eschildren who those accept pecially who arent toilet trained. Infection is less of a problem in centers enrolling older children and in home-base- d day care, he said. Although poor sanitary practices have probably contributed to the record number of cases, he believes luck has also played a part. You could probably find it anywhere in the country, he said. Health DepartThe Weber-Morga- n ment is launching a program aimed at preventing the outbreaks, mostly through improved sanitation. Recommendations being considered include: Frequent hand washing, especially after diaper changing. Use of disposable surfaces on changing tables and frequent disinfection of the area. child Separation of dren from youngsters still wearing diapers to minimize the spread of bacteria through fecal material. Possible disinfection of toys. Dr. Nichols said the guidelines arent intended to burden the daycare centers, but to balance the need for cleanliness with practicality. He said the hepatitis outbreak has been most obvious in parents of youngsters who become infected, since most adults will develop the fever, nausea, tiredness and jaundice characteristic of viral hepatitsis. toilet-traine- job-relat- sEcy INC. HARDWARE INSTALLATION & SCREEN FOR ONLY WINDOW GUARDS $299" 100 Wrought Iron lor Strength Pneiamtic Door Qoaar and Shock Abaorfaar Chain FVh Weetheratrippin 2 Ornamental Iron Hingea L9tii Warranty on All Door Frame Packaged for Shippmg Metal Jamba DotdJe Dead Bok Fin Hinged Side available to match all door P&untis, BB&ttuses & Wesis DOUBLE TUMBLER DEAD BOLT LOCK TEMPERED SAFETY CLASS Puabiagton Latch Our entire stock of Pykettes spring and summer CALL NOW FOR QUOTE DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION SCHEDULE Original retail in leading stores $9. $19 to $29 Womens Sizes 8-2- 0 Jackets FINEST QUALITY ALUMINUM AND GLASS PRODUCTS Iwg to only & 36-4- 6 (Sale does not include knit denim cordinate group) WINDOW WELL COVERS HAND RAILS FENCES DEADBOLTS INSTALLED PORCH SUPPORTS GATES Rigdar Vests are now reduced Misses Sizes Ornamental Iron of All Kinds Pants, Skirts, Blouses Lined Regularly $35 to $40 ewt iundmw Quuide mowdei ihA Unlined Regularly $25 Twicaed HtUtd rapfecanMi ful ww, ft arm du Ft4 rtorvw. .ks: i Ml randovcW ityVn to ebamw tram DEDUCTIBLE $27 1st Quality Only at Factory Direct Prices j CUSTOMIZED SOLARIUM to m SxSSSDSgg" FACTORY OUTLETS Sail taka City 760 South Slate 4o7-6- Mltfvatlay The Family Center 6960 South Redwood Rd 968-7- )0 am to $ pm IQ - Monday through Saturday Ogden Oram St. George Richfield The Family Center 2nd A Washington 392 9921 64 West Center 224 6585 a'!? West 200 Ninth 626 3789 Hu Closed Sundays hltHd Pi.i tJU South Hey 890 932. ' Nth Vt iliiM in IVi .Him kt Mh ut B'vit Vvi'i' is io . Ni'v.ut.i 89IU8 lO.M 64t. 0444 i Hj iii.tge |