Utah Transit Authority operates buses, TRAX and Front Runner in Box Elder, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, and Weber Counties, from Brigham City to Santaquin and west to Grantsville and was created in March of 1970 to provide public transportation services to a growing population here. The UTA took over routes and services from the former Salt Lake City lines which started up in 1953 and used buses built in the 1950’s and painted them light blue and white with a red belt rail.

Funding was the biggest challenge to getting public transportation growth here and it wasn’t until 1973 that our Legislature took profits from liquor store sales to fund the buses. In that year, Davis and Weber County transportation services joined up with Ogden coming on board in 1974 and then Utah County joining in 1984. Monies from sales taxes were thrown into the pot and soon annual ridership reached 600,000 passengers.  Note too that bus service to Snowbird and Alta came in the late ‘70s and it cost a more 25-cents per ride. TRAX (light rail) service opened in 1999 and ran along the first tracks from Salt Lake City to Sandy and back and have expanded in virtually all directions since then.

Here’s what most people don’t know about our public transportation in Salt Lake City: there is a FREE fare zone in the downtown area that has been in place for 40 years!  UTA doesn’t advertise this fact much, and in my opinion should be on signs placed around downtown and printed on flyers handed out to all conventioneers. Simply Google UTA Free Fare Zone (images) and you’ll see the map or go onto rideutah.com and see it here.

Working downtown I see many conventioneers trucking along our sidewalks in the hot summer sun, sporting their badges around their necks as they encounter our huge city blocks from their hotels located within several blocks of the convention center. And, have you ever tried to park by or near the state capitol building during the 45 days of our legislature? Yike!  Yet, anyone can hope on a UTA bus that goes from downtown up there and back.

If you begin your ride in the Free Fare Zone but plan to exit outside of it, you will have to buy a ticket, and if you board outside the zone and travel into it you will have to provide proof of payment if asked. And if you use your electronic fare card, you must tap it on or off depending on your trip.

Fares are $2.50, some fares could be $5 for express bus and ski buses, a day pass is $5 and a monthly pass is $85. Next time you think you don’t want to walk so much, hop on a bus or TRAX downtown-easy peasy. And hey, UTA…ADVERTISE THIS and get more fans of public transportation here!