This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. The Utah Transit Authority was founded in 1970 and is capable today of providing transportation services to 80 percent of Utah residents. Beth Holbrook is one of the three board members and shares the latest.
BETH HOLBROOK
The Board of UTA is so excited about the success of our recent “Free Fare February.” Ridership on weekdays increased by 16 percent and by almost 60 percent on Saturdays. We surveyed more than 5,000 riders during the month. Twenty-one percent said they were riding transit for the first time, and more than 80 percent of comments in the survey were positive about their experiences.
The enthusiasm from the public was amazing, and we were extremely pleased that so many people took the opportunity to give transit a try. We heard about one man who took the bus to Utah Lake, and a father who took his kids on TRAX to see a basketball game. There was also a family who rode FrontRunner all the way to the airport to pick up a parent from a work trip. These personal stories really showcase what transit can do for individuals and for our community.
DEREK MILLER
The Utah Transit Authority has one of the largest coverage areas of any transportation agency in the country – over 1,400 square miles. Fortunately, the bus, trolley, rideshare, FrontRunner, and TRAX systems enable everyone to move about affordably. I’m Derek Miller, and this is Speaking on Business.
