The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Tuesday awarded the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) approximately $75 million for construction of the 10.5-mile bus-rapid transit line connecting Orem and Provo.
The line is part of the Provo Orem Transportation Improvement Project that has been under construction for the past several months.
The project, a partnership between UTA, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Provo, Orem and Utah County, is designed to improve transportation for transit riders, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
The total estimated cost of the project is $190 million, which includes the $75 million grant, $65 million from a local sales tax bond, $40 million from UDOT, $7 million from a UDOT donated right of way, and $3 million from local sales taxes.
The bus-rapid transit line will originate at Orem Central Station and run to the East Bay Technology Park in Provo, with 18 stops—including at Utah Valley University, University Mall, Provo Town Centre Mall, BYU, downtown Provo and Provo Central Station.
Buses on the route are expected to run in five- to seven-minute intervals during peak hours and 10- to 15-minute intervals in nonpeak periods. The proposed route is estimated to allow buses to travel the entire 10.5-mile route five to 10 minutes faster than if traveled by car.
Construction of the project is expected to be completed by late 2018 and open by early 2019.
