TRANSIT: UTA, Salt Lake City Council look to 2014 goals

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) and Salt Lake City Council discussed short- and long-term transit projects they aim to begin in 2014 in order to double ridership in the near future.

The goals include:

• Adding rush hour times to all services to attract commuters;
• Reducing wait times so riders can show up to stops without checking the schedule;
• Extending hours of operation; and
• Adding stops so riders can reach any location in the city with just one transfer.

The UTA is also looking into a more affordable distance-based fare system, which they may or may not implement depending on the success of yearly ($350) or monthly ($30) transit passes. UTA began offering these passes to Salt Lake City residents in 2013.

Additionally, UTA hopes to stabilize all route systems, which change every three months in accordance with a UTA policy.

UTA plans on financing these projects with fare revenues, transit pass revenues and bonds.