We are moving our riders, our economy, and the needle on reducing the resources we use to support our community.
Last year, UTA's Board and Executive Team set clear priorities for the organization. One of those priorities is Moving Utahns to a Better Quality of Life and it encompasses two objectives:
- More access: By 2030, transit service will be accessible within a half-mile of 70% of Utah’s population.
- Less emissions: By 2030, UTA's carbon footprint will be reduced by 25%.
In honor of Earth Day this month, we'd like to share our progress on our environmental stewardship.
Ridership
Our first and foremost goal is to increase mobility for the region. In 2023, we had an 11.5% overall ridership gain — roughly from 31 million to 35 million. This means fewer cars on the road, which means less particulate matter, less pollution, and less greenhouse gas emissions into the air.
Dedicated Resources to Sustainability
This year saw the inception of UTA’s first official agency-wide sustainability policy, signifying our dedication to becoming better environmental stewards and fostering a more resilient future for communities along the Wasatch Front. The program will be led by UTA’s newly established Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability group, along with the new Sustainability Steering Committee and Green Team.
A Fully Electric BRT
After years of planning, the Ogden Express (OGX) bus rapid transit (BRT) line launched operations in 2023. Boasting a 100% electric bus fleet, 22 enhanced stations, dedicated lanes, signal priority at 19 lights, and weekday 10-minute service, OGX sets a new standard for sustainable urban transit. Additionally, riders can enjoy Zero Fare on OGX for three years, further incentivizing eco-conscious commuting. The implementation of an electric BRT system like OGX in Ogden signifies a significant leap towards swift and environmentally friendly transportation, reducing the number of cars on the road with every ride.
Sustainable Building for a Sustainable Fleet
In 2023, the Central Depot District Garage replaced the 45-year-old Salt Lake Central Bus Garage, marking a significant milestone in modernizing UTA’s transit infrastructure. Specifically engineered to house alternative-fuel, clean-air transit buses, the facility represents an important step towards agency sustainability. With vastly improved energy efficiency compared to its predecessor, the Central Depot District Garage embodies UTA's commitment to enhancing service while minimizing its carbon footprint.
More Zero-Emissions Buses
We are striving to make each ride more ecofriendly. This is evident in the Agency’s Zero Emission Bus Transition Plan, which outlines the goal to replace 50% of UTA’s fleet with battery electric or clean fuel buses by 2040. The effort started in 2019 when UTA launched our first three electric buses. In 2023 alone, 31 more electric buses went into service (OGX). In addition, two overhead chargers were installed.
Electric UTA On Demand
In partnership with Tooele County, the Federal Transit Administration, UCAIR, Rocky Mountain Power, and Via Transportation, Tooele County’s UTA On Demand service became a fully electric fleet of 10 vehicles. The on-demand service helps with first- and last-mile travel, connecting riders to other UTA services via shared eco-friendly trips, and expands UTA service across Tooele County.
Water Conserving TRAX Stations
UTA’s facilities team improved landscaping at TRAX 4800 West and 5600 West Old Bingham Highway stations. Water-dependent plants and irrigation systems were removed from over 3,700 square feet (about the area of a tennis court) to make room for improved xeriscaping. This type of landscaping relies on far less water, helping UTA reduce our water footprint and beautify the landscape with drought-tolerant plants.
There are more sustainability projects in the works for our facilities and, of course, we continue to find more ways to improve mobility and reduce pollution along the Wasatch Front. Thank you for riding and joining us in Moving Utahns to a Better Quality of Life.