Throughout the significant changes at the Utah Transit Authority over the past few years, one thing has stayed the same: UTA’s commitment to providing the best possible transit value to the communities we serve with the public resources that are entrusted to us.
As UTA prepares for a new governance structure and new executive leadership later this year, I want to thank the tens of thousands of riders who use our system each day. Serving you is why UTA exists and it’s what keeps us focused on creating an even better system.
UTA’s 2,400 team members also deserve a huge shout-out for their diligence, patience and professionalism during this transition. They are the heart and soul of the agency and the reason we can accomplish our mission day in and day out.
Moving forward, we’re excited about several efforts focused on improving service, building ridership, making our system easier to use, and partnering with local leaders to make their communities more transit-friendly.
Here are a few of the initiatives we’re working on:
• Utah Valley Express. The new Utah Valley Express bus rapid transit line begins initial service in mid-August. This new frequent, quick service will connect the Orem and Provo FrontRunner commuter rail stations via stops at major local destinations, including Utah Valley University, University Place, Brigham Young University and downtown Provo. UVX is a transit game-changer for fast-growing Utah County.
• Prop 1 and locally funded service improvements. Passage of sales tax increases in 2016 in Weber, Davis and Tooele counties and, just recently, in Salt Lake County, provide additional resources to further improved transit service. Opportunities include bus rapid transit projects in Ogden and south Davis County, increasing frequency and expanding service hours on bus routes, improving bus stop amenities and passenger tools, as well as other improvements to be determined in partnership with local elected leaders, riders and the public.
• Focus on core bus routes. Our well-established and efficient transit backbone of TRAX and FrontRunner lines excel at moving people north-south along the Wasatch Front, with main bus routes providing connections at rail stations. This hub-and-spoke bus route design works well for regional travel, but it’s less effective at providing east-west service.
Recognizing this, and knowing that UTA funds are limited, Salt Lake City leaders recently budgeted $5 million to increase service and ridership on key east-west bus routes in the Capital City. This is an exciting partnership that could become a template for other communities.
We’re building on this concept by launching a public outreach and planning effort soon to redesign the bus network to serve more riders, more frequently and more conveniently. In partnership with UDOT and regional transportation planning agencies, we’ll be reaching out to riders, city and county officials, large and small employers, nonprofit groups and others over the next 12 months to seek input on how we can remake bus service to work better for more people.
• Innovative mobility services. Ride-hailing apps, on-demand services, bike-sharing, autonomous vehicles, and electric scooters are just some of the ways that getting from one place to another has changed, and more disruption is on the horizon. We’re embracing this quickly evolving transportation landscape, looking for ways to connect UTA services to provide a seamless door-to-door experience. We’ve already partnered with service agencies in Davis and Utah counties to launch less-expensive, more-flexible alternatives to paratransit service, our most costly offering. Look for other innovative partnerships to come.
• Preparing for tomorrow. The Wasatch Front continues its fast growth and we know that further investment will be needed over time to build capital projects and fund service needs. The Silicon Slopes area of northern Utah County and southern Salt Lake County is one obvious location where significant transportation improvements will be needed. UTA works closely with our partners to plan for short-term and long-term needs.
There’s no doubt that UTA has evolved in recent years, but, through it all, the Wasatch Front’s transit system has remained one of the best in the nation. Continued community leadership, visionary planning and smart investments will keep it that way for decades to come.
Steve Meyer
Steve Meyer is Utah Transit Authority’s interim executive director.