UTA's express bus routes from Utah County to Salt Lake City are more popular than ever.

While this has been heralded by UTA as a success for public transportation, it has left some riders feeling cramped. The Utah Transit Authority, however, says that cramped buses soon will be eased by a purchase of several new buses for Utah County.

With many express bus routes at standing room only, nearly a quarter of express riders are making the trip from Utah County into downtown Salt Lake standing the whole way.

With ridership averaging about 75 passengers per trip, commuters say that the passengers who get on at the later stops are forced to stand every day.

Karl Jensen, who rides to Salt Lake, said that most days everyone standing has to file on and off the bus one by one in order to allow those relegated to the back of the bus to get off at their stop.

Riders however, are getting good news from UTA. Justin Jones, UTA spokesman, said that starting Aug. 26, UTA will be adding two additional routs from north Utah County into Salt Lake. They also will be adding an additional express route from south Utah County areas like Payson to UVSC and then over to BYU.

Nonetheless, Jones said that the real solution to the problem will be a commuter rail line from Utah County to Salt Lake.

Funds for a rail line were approved by voters this past November; however, lines will not be ready until 2011.

Over the past several weeks, passengers have been firing off e-mails and making phone calls to UTA only to be told that there is nothing to be done immediately to ease the crowding. Some passengers have said that they have even sent photographs of the crowded buses to UTA.

Despite high ridership numbers, the possibility of fare increases still exists. UTA is proposing increases for monthly express passes which would raise prices by $7 in July and by an additional $41 in January, bringing to cost from its current rate of $100 per month to $148. Income from fares, however, only pays about 20 percent of operating costs.

UTA will hold a public meeting on April 11 to discuss increased fairs at the Provo City Library at 6:30 p.m.

The main purpose of the meeting will be to discuss increases in the general fare schedule over all types of service.

Jones said that the issue of riders standing is not a safety issue, but is instead, "a comfort issue." Jones said that bus travel was one of the safest ways to travel.