The service change proposals for April 2025 and 2026 will kick off the first two years of the UTA Five-Year Service Plan (5YSP).

The final draft of Five-Year Service Plan, currently under review for adoption by UTA’s Board of Trustees in December 2024, includes multiple proposed changes for April 2025 and 2026. These changes are based on analysis done in conjunction with the 5YSP, as well as significant community engagement both before and during the 5YSP process. This process provides a final review in accordance with Title VI and a public review to ensure the service change proposals are finalized and approved for implementation. The FYSP was developed with the following goals in mind:

• Improve employee working conditions and provide consistent service throughout the day
• Implement Long-Range Transit plan and prepare for future service/projects
• Respond to community and stakeholder feedback
• Optimize the system for more access within current limits
• Restore service in areas where it was previously reduced

There is one fare change for April 2025, which is to charge fare on Route 628, Midtown Trolley, to align with other local bus services.

Additional fare change proposals are in preparation for the new fare technology systems and replacements forthcoming over the next 2 years. Exact timelines are still being determined.

UTA has been implementing a multi-phase process for a new fare collection system that aims to be simple and easy for riders to understand, that maximizes the convenience of paying fares, that allows for seamless travel between modes, and that is equitable.

Fares will be simplified by eliminating multiple fare products that customers must choose from when deciding to ride transit. Instead, customers will set up pre-paid, reloadable accounts that are associated with fare media such as electronic tap cards, bank cards, and mobile phones.

Customers will pay fare and validate their payment by tapping the fare media (card or phone) on electronic card readers located on buses and rail platforms. Fare pricing will be done automatically on the back end and the customer will be charged the least expensive fare rate based on their travel patterns and eligibility for reduced fare.

UTA is starting the final phases of this project. To support the rollout of this project and achieve an integrated fare collection system, fare changes are being proposed.

TVMs will vend electronic FAREPAY Cards instead of paper tickets. The list of full and reduced fare tickets that would be replaced includes:

• One-way
• Round trip
• Upgrade ticket
• Group pass
• Day pass

First-time FAREPAY Card buyers will pay a fee on the card of $3. Riders using a FAREPAY Card as their method of payment should save that card for all future uses to avoid the card fee again.

Monthly passes will be replaced by FAREPAY Cards, and the best fare will continue to be automatically calculated using fare capping technology. The monthly passes being eliminated include:

• Reduced fare monthly stickers (RF, XRF)
• Reduced fare monthly pass (R, XR)
• Full fare monthly pass (A, X)

By moving to the FAREPAY Card, customers will pay as they go instead of paying for the full monthly cost of a pass upfront; they will reload the same FAREPAY Card each month instead of getting a new monthly pass each month; and through the FAREPAY system will received fare capping and other discounts if eligible automatically applied to the fare they pay.

Although development has not started, UTA plans to integrate mobile fare payment for both pass partners and the public with the new fare collection system and anticipates tickets will be replaced by pre-paid, reloadable accounts. This information may change slightly as UTA finalizes the future of mobile fare payment.

The following passes are anticipated to be eliminated from the mobile app in the future:

• Day Pass
• One-way (full or reduced fare)
• One-way FrontRunner (full or reduced fare)
• Monthly regular (full or reduced fare)
• Monthly premium (full or reduced fare)
• One-way Ski Pass, seasonal (full or reduced fare)
• Group pass (premium pass for 4 people)
• Riders License, seasonal (discounted youth pass)
• One-way Paratransit (passengers must pre-qualify)
• Flex Route deviation (flex route only)
• Special Event pass
• Full fare monthly pass (A, X)
• Reduced fare

• For customers paying cash at the farebox upon boarding a bus, bus operators will no longer issue paper transfers.
• For customers paying cash on bus, and who transfer between different modes of transit, each leg of the trip will cost separately.
• For example: a rider takes Route 220 and transfers to the Red Line TRAX, this trip will cost $2.50 for the bus ride and $2.50 for the TRAX ride for a total of $5.00.
• Transfer credits will automatically be applied on electronic fare media, including the FAREPAY Card. The time frame customers can travel on more than one mode of transit using electronic fare media without incurring an additional fare cost will remain two hours from the tap off.

• Reduced fare discounts will only be available for customers using electronic fare media. To receive the discount, customers should apply for and use a Reduced Fare FAREPAY Card, which will require customers to create an account.
• Reduced fare eligible riders who pay cash through the farebox will not be eligible for a discount and will need to pay full fare.
• Customers that are eligible for a reduced fare discount can use cash to add funds to the FAREPAY Cards at TVMs, UTA customer service locations, and retailers. Funds may also be added to FAREPAY Cards online using non-cash payment options.

• Reduced fare plastic ID cards will be phased out. They are being retired because they cannot be read or validated by the electronic card readers. Riders who utilize this ID card should transition to the Reduced Fare FAREPAY Card by applying online. Riders can add funds to an electronic card at TVMs, UTA customer service locations, and retailers.
• Customers not currently using UTA’s Reduced Fare FAREPAY card can apply online and do not need to wait for the new fare collection system to be implemented.