This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah Transit Authority is extending for seven months a promotion to give bus and train riders a 20 percent discount on fares if they use UTA's new electronic FAREPAY cards.
It is extending that offer through June 30. The promotion originally started when UTA launched the FAREPAY cards in October 2013.
"We hope that extending this promotion will encourage even more riders to try FAREPAY," said Michael Allegra, president and CEO of UTA.
UTA said the cards are now used by patrons for more than 100,000 boardings a month.
The cards may be purchased for a one-time $3 fee. They are available online, at UTA customer service centers and at more than 250 retailers across the Wasatch Front. They can be loaded — and reloaded — with any amount of money between $5 and $500.
Fares are subtracted as riders tap on and off at electronic readers on buses and at train stops. The cards never expire.
UTA says the cards may simplify commutes by eliminating the need to carry cash, find exact change or wait in line at ticket vending machines.
UTA says 52 percent of FAREPAY users surveyed say they ride transit more because of the card, and 75 percent say they would recommend FAREPAY to others. Seven percent of cardholders say they are new UTA riders.