UTA reports significant increase in ridership thanks to Free Fare February

UTA's winter 2022/23 service cuts include several routes to and from Park City. Photo: UTA

SALT LAKE CITY — In an effort to promote the use of public transit, Utah officials announced Free Fare February at the beginning of the month, making all Utah Transit Authority (UTA) services free until the end of the month.

On Wednesday, UTA said that the average weekday ridership systemwide is up 20% for the first two weeks of February. Saturday shows the largest increase at 34%, with Sunday ridership up 27%.

The FrontRunner, a commuter rail system that connects Ogden to Provo, sees the most significant increases. Saturday ridership is up 163%, with weekday boardings up 33%. It does not operate on Sundays.

Ridership on UTA’s bus services is up 22% during the week, 29% on Saturdays, and 31% on Sundays. The agency has more than 480 buses and offers more than 120 routes serving roughly 6,140 stops.

Transit in Summit County and Park City is already free. However, UTA operates the PC-SLC Connect, traveling from the Kimball Junction Transit Center to Salt Lake County. A one-way fare in normal times is $2.50.

The two PC-SLC Connect routes:

• 901 – Meadowbrook Station via 3900 South
• 902 – Salt Lake Central Station via University of Utah and Downtown Salt Lake City