Year in - Utah Transit Authority
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U t a h T r a n s i t Au t h o r i t y Y e a r i n R e v i e w 2 0 1 3
D E A R U TA S TA K E H O L D E R S , UTAH TRANSIT
AUTHORITY
BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
What a year it’s been! schedule 89 percent of the time and light Gregory H. Hughes, Chair
Representing the cities within
rail keeping schedule 94 percent of the time. Salt Lake County and the cities
The year of 2013 was one of the most FrontRunner’s on-time reliability increased of Tooele and Grantsville
successful time periods in UTA’s history. from 68 percent at the end of 2012 to 90
H. David Burton, Vice Chair
Keeping its promise made to voters in 2006, percent in 2013. Representing the Governor
the agency concluded its FrontLines 2015 of the State of Utah
program with the opening of the Airport and While this is an opportunity to highlight the Justin Y. Allen
Draper TRAX lines. FrontLines 2015, which year’s accomplishments, it’s also a time to look Representing the President
consisted of the Mid-Jordan, West Valley, ahead. Last year provided the groundwork for of the Senate
Airport and Draper TRAX lines and the Provo our move into the future. Among the things Keith Bartholomew
to Salt Lake FrontRunner extension, was on the horizon are improved fare payment Representing Salt Lake City
delivered two years ahead of schedule and systems, Provo-Orem bus rapid transit (BRT), Christopher R. Bleak
$300 million under budget. Capping off the and possible transportation improvements in Representing the cities within
year, UTA opened Utah’s first modern streetcar northern Utah County, Davis County and the Utah County
line between South Salt Lake and Salt Lake Wasatch Mountains. Necia Christensen
City’s Sugar House neighborhood. These new Representing the cities within
Salt Lake County and the cities
projects bring the Wasatch Front’s rail transit We recognize that each finish line is but the of Tooele and Grantsville
system to 140 miles. The entire rail network, beginning of a new race, and UTA’s dedicated
which debuted with the completion of the board of trustees and staff are more engaged Larry A. Ellertson
Representing the cities within
Sandy/Salt Lake TRAX line in 1999, has come than ever to enhance the quality of life along Utah County
in $350 million under budget. the Wasatch Front by connecting people to
Jeff Hawker
their schools, jobs and communities, all while
Representing the cities within
With the completion of FrontLines 2015, having a positive impact on air quality and Salt Lake County and the cities
UTA increased the amount of transit service traffic congestion. We look forward to you of Tooele and Grantsville
it offers to the community. Overall, the joining us as we proceed with these and other Charles G. Henderson
agency came in nearly $7 million under efforts to continue to live our agency vision, Representing unincorporated
budget and produced $2.2 million in which is to provide an integrated system of Salt Lake County
efficiency savings. UTA used its savings to innovative, accessible and efficient public Robert A. Hunter
increase its service hours by 2.6 percent. transportation services that increase access to Representing the cities within
Weber County and the cities of
The agency also improved its on-time opportunities and a healthy environment for
Brigham City, Perry and Willard
vehicle reliability, with buses running on all the people of the Wasatch region.
Dannie McConkie
Representing the Utah
Transportation Commission
Robert McKinley
Representing the cities within
Salt Lake County and the cities
of Tooele and Grantsville
P. Bret Millburn
Gregory H. Hughes Michael A. Allegra Representing the cities
within Davis County
Chair, Board of Trustees General Manager
Utah Transit Authority Utah Transit Authority Michael E. Romero
Gregory H. Hughes Michael A. Allegra Representing the cities within
Chair, Board of Trustees General Manager Salt Lake County and the cities
of Tooele and Grantsville
Chris Sloan
Representing the cities of Brigham
UTA is a government special service district overseen by a board of trustees. Special service districts are usually smaller
than a state agency but serve an area larger than traditional city or county borders. UTA serves the residents of Salt Lake, City, Perry, Willard, Grantsville
Weber, Davis and Utah counties and select cities within Box Elder and Tooele counties. UTA’s funding comes primarily and Tooele (non-voting)
from the municipalities within its service area.
Troy K. Walker
The UTA Board of Trustees provides broad direction, governs the Authority, and sets policies and goals on issues such as Representing the Speaker
ridership, services and financial responsibilities. Members of the board are generally appointed by the city and county
of the House
governments within UTA’s service area that support the agency with a local-option sales tax. Some board members are
also appointed by the state. Board members serve four-year terms with no term limits.
A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y
UTA is committed to the taxpayers and the citizens it serves. The agency works
to foster a culture of transparency and prides itself in going above and beyond
the legal requirements regarding public access, especially in the areas of
service planning, fares and project development. The agency also conducts its
board committees and full board business in open meetings and has extremely
stringent ethics policies for its board members and employees.
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT UTA GETS A CLOSER LOOK its performance, administration and safety
As part of its commitment to transparency, In any given year, UTA undergoes processes. As part of its financial oversight
UTA goes above and beyond to encourage numerous evaluations including an program, UTA conducts internal financial
public participation and feedback while annual salary audit, U.S. Department of audits and reports each year. The agency
it plans for future growth. UTA follows Homeland Security audits, procurement also prepares a Comprehensive Annual
rigorous guidelines with its outreach, audits, various operational and safety Financial Report and monthly financial
including public hearing policies and compliance audits, and more. In 2013, reports that are reviewed by the board
procedures with mandatory comment UTA participated in 38 separate audits on of trustees.
periods. Beyond the legally required
hearings, UTA has implemented an
enhanced public involvement program
for service changes. The program is S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y
designed to increase public access and
Sustainability is one of UTA’s core values embraced and practiced throughout
participation and to promote more
the organization. This is demonstrated through maintaining its Environmental
meaningful dialogue and input. It
Management System ISO 14001 certification since 2005 and its ongoing efforts
includes an initial public scoping-type
process to gather the public’s priorities to manage the agency’s growth while preparing to meet the needs of the
and preferences for the transit system burgeoning Wasatch Front. Additionally, UTA helps area residents care for the
prior to holding the required public open environment as 35.3 million auto trips were eliminated in the last year.
houses to solicit comment on service
proposals. To further enhance this
program, Open UTA, an online “open city Greening the Fleet L A ST MILE SOLUTIONS
hall” type of website was developed. It In 2013, UTA put 24 compressed natural UTA partnered with various organizations
allows UTA to ask questions and solicit gas (CNG) buses into service. These to offer passengers last-mile transportation
feedback on potential changes to the vehicles have lower emissions due to cleaner options for getting to their final destinations.
system in an easy-to-use way. UTA also burning fuel and are more cost effective to One of these companies is Enterprise
adopted new Title VI requirements that operate than traditional diesel-fuel buses. CarShare (enterprisecarshare.com). The
require hearings before new service is In addition, UTA features 32 hybrid-electric company has several vehicles available
implemented. In addition, UTA creatively buses and 224 clean diesel buses in its fleet. for hourly rent at many of UTA’s park and
uses new technologies and tactics—such Improvements in the bus fleet have led to a ride lots. Interested passengers can contact
as Twitter chats, online comment forms 65 percent decrease in NOx (nitrogen oxide)
and other social media tools—to share emissions and a 66 percent reduction in PM
and receive information from the public. (particulate matter) emissions since 2007.
With the help of UTA’s riders, the agency
also saved 214,467 tons of greenhouse gas
38 PERFORMANCE, ADMINISTRATION,
emissions and more than 300,000 gallons of
& SAFETY AUDITS
fuel in 2013.
PERFORMANCE
UTA prides itself on its commitment to high standards of management and
operational practices. Recognized throughout the public transportation industry
for delivering projects ahead of schedule and under budget, UTA accomplishes
this with an overhead rate of approximately half the national average. The agency
is often cited among the nation’s best transit authorities. UTA credits its success
to innovative project management and delivery, rigorous management and ethical
standards that promote agency transparency, superior performance and wise use of
taxpayer money.
RIDERSHIP ON THE RISE at a lean and efficient cost. The board of
24 CNG BUSES trustees, staff and agency stakeholders all
Although 70 percent of UTA riders have
32 HYBRID ELECTRIC BUSES
access to a car, people continue to choose participate in the budget process, creating
224 CLEAN DIESEL BUSES
66% REDUCTION IN PM transit as a viable transportation option. an annual budget that reflects service levels,
Ridership has continued to increase year anticipated revenues and costs.
over year with 2013 reaching an all-time
Enterprise to reserve these vehicles to use for
high of 44.1 million boardings. TRAX
transportation to their final destinations. 44 MILLION BOARDINGS
ridership increased by 9 percent, which
$6.7 MILLION UNDER BUDGET
included the opening of the Airport and
UTA also teamed up with GREENBike, 70 MILES OF RAIL BUILT IN 5 YEARS
Draper TRAX lines and S-Line Streetcar. 103% FRONTRUNNER RIDERSHIP INCREASE
Salt Lake City’s bicycling sharing program.
FrontRunner saw an extreme boost in
GREENBikes are located at key UTA rail
ridership with a 103 percent increase over
stations in Salt Lake City and offer passengers
2012, which was largely due to the first OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
the opportunity to rent a bike for a reasonable
full year of commuter rail operations from UTA operates one of the most efficient
fee by the half-hour, the entire day or even on
Salt Lake City to Provo. systems in the country, primarily due to
a weekly basis. Annual GREENBike rentals are
its strong fiscal management and a dedicated
also available. More information can be found
To encourage transit ridership, in 2013 UTA rank and file workforce that is committed
at greenbikeslc.org.
engaged in several unique programs, such to saving money. The agency has one of the
as a new partnership with University of lowest overhead costs among the nation’s
RIDECLEAR Utah athletics that allowed game tickets to transit agencies, with its overhead coming
To help promote clean air along the Wasatch most university sporting events to be used in at only 12 percent of its total budget
Front, UTA partnered with Zions Bank in as transit fare. The university invested in compared to the national average of 16
July 2013 to present the first-ever RideClear percent. Low operating costs are also
this program, and it has proven extremely
pass. RideClear allowed 5,000 people to possible due to the implementation of Lean
popular. Ridership was also positively
obtain free, seven-day transit passes to use processes in its operations and maintenance
impacted by the agency entering into an
during the month of July, one of Utah’s worst
agreement with the state of Utah to get transit divisions, saving the agency $2.2 million
months for air quality. Zions Bank underwrote
passes into the hands of state employees. in 2013.
2,500 RideClear passes and UTA matched its
donation, making 5,000 passes available to
Wasatch Front residents. FISCAL MANAGEMENT A REGION CONNECTED BY RAIL
UTA has a long history of being fiscally In 2013, UTA completed the final pieces
prudent, and the year 2013 was no exception of the FrontLines 2015 project with the
with the agency coming in nearly $7 million opening of the Airport and Draper TRAX
under budget. Through a combination of lines. This closed one of the most aggressive
long-range forecasting, detailed annual transit expansion projects in the nation.
budget development, and a culture of The completed rail network creates a strong
innovation and continuous improvement, backbone for a transit system that will serve
UTA provides strong levels of transit service current and future generations.
In all, UTA conducted 10 interagency
emergency exercises in 2013.
TSA coordination took on extra importance
in 2013 as the Airport TRAX line opened the
S afety F irst week of the Boston Marathon bombings. After
Safety continues to be UTA’s top priority. A safety-focused approach guides all aspects extensively reviewing the transit system, the
of UTA, from developing innovative processes for opening new rail lines to providing TSA gave UTA its Gold Standard Award for
educational outreach to students. UTA is committed to maintaining the highest levels achieving the highest standard of excellence in
security. The award was issued in recognition
of rider, employee and community safety because it is vital to its future success.
of UTA’s high scores on the TSA’s Baseline
Reducing the number of transit incidents was a top achievement for 2013, with bus
Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE)
accidents down 13 percent and TRAX accidents decreasing 52 percent.
and its strong security program.
Safely Opening New Lines Safety Certifications Public Awareness &
UTA continued using its groundbreaking and In June 2013, UTA was awarded the Education
nationally recognized “hold point” process as Occupational Health and Safety Assessment UTA continues to be a community leader in
a standard practice prior to starting service on Series (SMS OHSAS) 18001 certification. promoting rail safety through education and
new rail lines. The innovative safety program The standard contains specifications for a community outreach. In 2013, it continued its
consists of three distinct hold points that management system that helps organizations extensive grassroots outreach to local schools,
ensure all certification processes and safety control occupational health and safety risks. community groups and city councils. UTA
reviews are complete before pre-revenue The certification measures UTA’s management employees, trained by the nationally recognized
testing is allowed to begin. In 2013, UTA used system against a best practice standard for rail safety organization Operation Lifesaver,
the hold point process to successfully and compliance. Issued by the independent delivered more than 300 safety presentations
safely test and open the Airport and Draper accreditation organization NSF International, the to nearly 9,500 community members. Extra
TRAX lines and the S-Line Streetcar. certification demonstrates that UTA proactively attention was paid to neighborhoods and
protects the health and safety of its workforce. schools located near new rail lines.
In addition to UTA’s internal hold point process, This achievement, combined with the agency’s
it regularly undergoes rigorous external safety Environmental Management System ISO 14001
audits. In conjunction with the opening of and Quality Management System ISO 9001
three new rail lines in 2013, UTA successfully certifications, makes UTA the first and only P ro j ects &
completed safety audits from the United transit authority to obtain all three certifications. S er v ices
States Department of Transportation’s State Despite completing more projects than at
Safety Oversight program, the Federal Transit 300 SAFETY PRESENTATIONS TO any other time in its history, UTA continues
Administration’s (FTA) Project Management NEARLY 9,500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, to look ahead. In 2013, the agency’s
Oversight program as well as other routine ESPECIALLY TO NEIGHBORHOODS
board of trustees and staff reached out
safety audits from FTA headquarters. & SCHOOLS NEAR NEW RAIL LINES
to stakeholder groups, local elected
officials, business leaders, rider advocates,
Additionally,
and UTA employees to develop a 2020
UTA and its Safety and Security
Strategic Plan. The plan is designed to
contractors Coordination
emphasized serve as a road map for the future of
UTA’s commitment to safety not only means
safety during the keeping conditions hazard free for employees, the agency. In addition to this work, UTA
construction of it also means keeping the UTA transit system advanced a number of transportation
its FrontLines safe and secure for riders. The agency regularly studies throughout its service area.
2015 program. partners with the Transportation Security
Over the course Administration (TSA) as well as local police
of the six-year, $2.5 billion program, only one and fire departments to hold training exercises
lost-time accident occurred, making it the designed to help responding agencies learn
safest construction project of this magnitude how to work around trains and improve
in the country. coordination and response times.
FrontLines 2015
Completion
In 2008, UTA announced the FrontLines
2015 project, which called for building
70 miles of new rail in seven years. The
ambitious $2.5 billion plan to build four
light rail lines and one commuter rail line Draper TRAX The city anticipates that 3,000 new
was the largest construction project in UTA’s UTA officially marked the completion of the housing units will be built around the
history and the sixth largest rail construction FrontLines 2015 project with the opening line in the coming years. In Salt Lake
project in North America at the time. With of the 3.5-mile Draper TRAX line in August City, the S-Line is already generating
the 2013 openings of the Draper and Airport 2013. Built on UTA-owned right-of-way, economic development. Salt Lake City
TRAX lines, UTA marked the successful the extension of the Blue Line adds three reports that streetcar construction has
stations and helps meet the transportation accelerated or is partially responsible for
needs of southeast Salt Lake County. The the creation of more than 1,000 residential
FRONTLINES 2015 PROJECT COMPLETED
TWO YEARS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE & line links Draper and portions of Sandy to units and nearly 2 million square feet of
$300 MILLION UNDER BUDGET downtown Salt Lake City, the University redevelopment at seven sites, resulting in
of Utah, Daybreak, West Valley City, Sugar $400 million in private investment.
House and the Salt Lake City International
completion of the FrontLines 2015 project Airport. It also connects passengers to
two years ahead of schedule and $300 Route 650
FrontRunner commuter rail. In time for the 2013-14 school year,
million under budget. The FrontLines 2015
project doubled the size of UTA’s passenger UTA introduced Route 650, a direct bus
rail network along the Wasatch Front. S-Line Streetcar connection from the Ogden FrontRunner
UTA opened the state’s first modern station to Weber State University. The
streetcar line in December 2013. Known route shortened the trip between the rail
Airport TRAX station and the school by 20 minutes and
as the S-Line, the 2-mile streetcar project
In April 2013, UTA opened the 6-mile Airport
runs from Central Pointe Station in South was very well-received by WSU students
TRAX line. An extension of the Green Line,
Salt Lake to the heart of Salt Lake City’s and faculty.
the Airport TRAX line offers increased
Sugar House neighborhood. In addition
connectivity to Salt Lake City’s west side and
to providing increased transit options Looking Ahead
provides a rail connection between Salt Lake
City International Airport and downtown. UTA continues to explore ways to provide
Riders can now travel from downtown Salt more transit options to more people.
STREETCAR CONSTRUCTION WAS
Lake City to the airport in 20 minutes. Seeking to build on its robust rail network,
PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR:
UTA is now undertaking several transit
Adding a rail link to the airport not only 1,000+ NEW RESIDENTIAL UNITS
studies to see how enhanced bus and bus
makes travel easy for business and leisure
2 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF rapid transit projects can offer increased
travelers, it is also good for the local economy. REDEVELOPMENT AT 7 SITES
service, frequency and connectivity to local
According to a 2013 study by the U.S. Travel
$400 MILLION IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT communities. Transit improvement studies
Association and the nonprofit American
are currently underway in Weber, Davis,
Public Transportation Association (APTA),
Salt Lake and Utah counties.
cities with airport rail connections have a
and a direct connection to UTA’s regional
competitive advantage in generating revenues
rail system, the S-Line is revitalizing One of the most visible studies UTA
for the private sector and the overall tax base
neighborhoods, spurring economic is involved in is the Mountain Accord
compared with similar cities that do not have
development and adding walkable green project, a multiphase program that seeks
a direct rail connection to the airport.
space. The line features an adjacent to make long-term decisions about the
greenway corridor that adds six acres Wasatch Mountains. The program focuses
of walkable green space to the area’s on four areas including transportation,
neighborhoods. South Salt Lake City environment, economy and recreation.
has plans to develop transit-oriented Currently, UTA is working with other
housing around the S-Line to create a project stakeholders in obtaining early
walkable, urban neighborhood that will public input regarding the future of one of
become the heart of the community. Utah’s most popular and well-loved areas.
P utting the C ustomer F irst
In 2013, UTA focused on providing better information to its customers in order
to make riding more convenient. The agency particularly focused on the latest in
real-time technologies and new payment systems.
UTA FAREPAY Social Media
CURRENT STUDIES In October 2013, UTA unveiled its new As social media continues to be an
FAREPAY reloadable, prepaid fare card. increasingly popular way for people to
Ogden-WSU Transit Study
FAREPAY, available for purchase at interact with companies, UTA made
rideuta.com and at more than 300 Wasatch additional investments in this area during
5600 W. Bus Rapid Transit/ Front retailers, allows customers to load 2013. UTA increased the number of
Mountain View Corridor a contactless fare card with any amount customer service agents assigned to provide
between $5 and $500. Customers can system updates and answer questions on
Sandy-South Jordan Circulator also schedule automatic fund reloading Twitter, and the agency boosted its activity
and manage their account balance online. on Facebook by providing more service
To help drive the adoption of FAREPAY,
Southwest Salt Lake County UTA offered a 20 percent fare discount to
Transit Study passengers using the card. By the end of 5,400 FAREPAY CARDS SOLD
30 MOBILE APPS
2013, nearly 5,400 FAREPAY cards had
UPGRADED ONLINE TRIP PL ANNER
Provo/Orem Bus Rapid Transit been sold at 170 retailers.
Clearfield/Layton Circulator Mobile App Center updates for followers. The agency also
Since 2012, UTA has made its real-time started its own Instagram feed, opening
data feed available to private developers to up another avenue to interact with its
South Davis-SLC Community use in creating mobile applications. Since passengers. Additionally, UTA developed
Connector then, nearly 30 mobile apps have been a News & Events Page on rideuta.com,
made available to assist UTA passengers which allows users to access the agency’s
Salt Lake Downtown Streetcar in using the system. In 2013, UTA began blog, YouTube videos, press releases, and
showcasing privately developed rider apps Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds
via its online App Center, which provides from one location.
Taylorsville-Murray
customers information on app functionality
Transit Study
and mobile platform availability. The App RideTime
Center can be easily accessed from UTA’s UTA launched its RideTime SMS
Mountain Accord home page at rideuta.com. information texting system in 2013. The
service allows waiting passengers to text
Northern Utah County Online Trip Planner UTA for the next real-time bus or train
Transit Study UTA’s online trip planner underwent major arrival at their location. The system, along
renovations in 2013. The tool now allows with the emergence of mobile apps, has
users to engage in both map-based and decreased the number of calls to UTA’s
address-based trip planning and provides customer service call center by 11 percent.
improved address recognition. The trip
planner also features walking directions and
allows users to plan trips by preferred mode.
uta facts
Service Area Bus & Paratransit
• Serves Box Elder, Weber, Davis, Tooele, Salt • 103 routes
Lake and Utah counties • 16 Flex bus routes
• Covers 1,600 square miles, serving • 6,273 active bus stops
80 percent of the state’s population • 493 buses
• 113 paratransit vehicles
Operations & Performance • MAX bus rapit transit (BRT)
• Established March 3, 1970 service on 3500 South (9 miles)
• Employs 2,248 • Fleet 100 percent accessible
• Three-time recipient of APTA’s “Outstanding to riders with disabilities
Public Transportation System” award • Used more than 6.5 million
• Maintains both ISO 9001 certification gallons of diesel fuel in 2013
for quality management and ISO 14001 • Each one-cent increase in
certification for environmental management cost of fuel to UTA = $65,000
Funding
• Local-option sales tax: Salt Lake
Commuter Rail
County: 0.6875 cent; Weber and Davis • 89 miles of rail
counties: 0.55 cent; Utah County: • 15 stations
0.526 cent; Box Elder 0.55 cent; Tooele • 18 locomotives
and Grantsville cities: 0.3 cent • 22 bi-level cab cars
• Nearly $1.3 billion received in discretionary • 16 bi-level coach cars
federal grants in the last 10 years • 15 refurbished passenger cars
Ridership streetcar
• 2013 systemwide ridership: 44,120,284 • Opened the S-Line servicing South Salt
trips, a 3.1 percent increase over 2012 Lake and Sugar House in December 2013
• Average weekday ridership totals • 2 miles, 7 stops
(December 2013): 157,519
- TRAX: 69,600
- FrontRunner: 14,760 FrontLines 2015 Project
- Salt Lake County Bus: 47,104 • Completed in 2013, two years ahead
- Utah County Bus: 8,672 of schedule
- Weber & Davis County Bus: 10,898 • Mid-Jordan TRAX line (10.6 miles)
- Paratransit: 1,502 opened August 2011
- Vanpool: 4,983 • West Valley TRAX line (5.1 miles)
opened August 2011
Rideshare • Provo to Salt Lake FrontRunner
• 56 schools with annual student transit passes commuter rail line (44 miles)
• 131 businesses with annual employee opened December 2012
transit passes • Airport TRAX line (6 miles)
• 470 vanpools; 1,387,816 rides opened April 2013
• 2,509 carpool matches • Draper TRAX line (3.5 miles)
opened August 2013
Light Rail
• 8 TRAX projects completed ahead Future Projects
of schedule and under budget • Utah County Bus Rapid Transit (10 miles)
• 44.8 light rail miles • Taylorsville-Murray Bus Rapid Transit
• 51 stations • Mountain View Corridor Transit (5 miles)
• 114 TRAX vehicles • Southwest Salt Lake County (13 miles)
• South Davis-Salt Lake Connector
• Downtown Streetcar (Salt Lake City)
U tah transit A uthority
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