UTA launches free bus line connecting riders along east-west Salt Lake valley. by Jared Turner & Avery Sloane, KUTV Mon, April 13, 2026 at 6:16 PM Updated Mon, April 13, 2026 at 6:24 PM 00:00 04:34 UTA just rolled out several service changes across the valley - including a new free bus line designed to connect two major transit hubs and move thousands of riders more efficiently. (KUTV) SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) - UTA just rolled out several service changes across the valley - including a new free bus line designed to connect two major transit hubs and move thousands of riders more efficiently. The Utah Transit Authority introduced the Midvalley Express, or MVX, as part of its spring Change Day updates. The new route runs between Murray Central and West Valley Central stations, creating a seven-mile connection through Murray, Taylorsville and West Valley. MORE | ARC Salt Lake: 00:00 04:34 UTA just rolled out several service changes across the valley - including a new free bus line designed to connect two major transit hubs and move thousands of riders more efficiently. (KUTV) ARC Salt Lake spoke with UTA spokesman Gavin Gustafson near Gallivan Plaza, who said the new line is built to function more like rail than a traditional bus. "It has dedicated bus lanes down the middle of 4700 South," Gustafson said. "It's kind of like a TRAX on wheels." Stations are also positioned between eastbound and westbound lanes - another design feature meant to mirror TRAX service and improve speed and reliability. UTA expects strong demand for the new route. "Thousands," Gustafson said when asked how many people could use the line. The MVX route includes a stop at Salt Lake Community College's Taylorsville campus, where a new transit hub was recently built to expand access for students and the surrounding community. "That's a really important piece for the whole county and the valley," Gustafson said. "We wanted to provide better service there." The line will remain fare-free through April 2029. "That's our most important tool that we use," Gustafson said. "Then of course, ridership patterns - just where we see people using the service." The MVX launch comes alongside broader system updates tied to Change Day, including route adjustments and a shift toward the FAREPAY card as the primary option for reduced fares. UTA is also seeing more people turn to transit as gas prices rise. "Historically, as gas prices rise, so does our ridership," Gustafson said. "I can just see more people riding over the past six weeks or so." The agency implements service changes three times a year, using system data and community input to refine routes and improve access across the region.

Utah Transit Authority shares 2025 rider data, accomplishments and plans for 2026. The Utah Transit Authority's ridership continued to be strong in 2025 with more than 40.3 million boardings across bus, rail, light rail, streetcar, vanpool, paratransit and microtransit. Utah Transit Authority // Jan 30, 2026 SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Transit Authority's ridership continued to be strong in 2025 with more than 40.3 million boardings across bus, rail, light rail, streetcar, vanpool, paratransit and microtransit. UTA has now recovered to nearly 100% of its pre-pandemic bus ridership and remains well ahead of the national recovery average for overall ridership. 2025 at UTA was also marked by many milestone accomplishments, most notably receiving the Outstanding Public Transportation System Award from APTA, the top award in the North American transit industry. Other achievements include the addition of more than 1 million service miles and accelerating the launch of the Midvalley Express (MVX). Strong UTA ridership results reflect a largely stable year overall in 2025, with notable growth in several key services. Bus ridership remained the backbone of the system, carrying more than 20.6 million riders and posting a solid 1.5% year-over-year increase. The most significant gains came from UTA's flexible and shared services: Vanpool ridership surged 15.7%, reaching more than 1.3 million trips, while UTA On Demand grew 13.6% to 645,308 boardings, highlighting strong demand for adaptable, commuter-focused options. The UTA On Demand program exceeded 2 million total riders since the service began in 2019. The S-Line streetcar also saw modest growth, increasing 0.4% year over year. Paratransit again provided more than 360,000 rides, FrontRunner moved more than 4 million for the second year in a row, and TRAX saw nearly 13 million customers. Other notable UTA achievements in 2025 * Accelerated the launch of MVX, which will now open in spring 2026, one year ahead of when initially scheduled. This all-electric bus rapid transit line will feature dedicated lanes to connect Murray, West Valley City and Taylorsville with key destinations like Salt Lake Community College and the Maverick Center. * Opened the South Jordan Downtown Station, a new TRAX Red Line station to accommodate the rapid growth in the area and serve as a direct access point to The Ballpark at America First Square, new home of the Salt Lake Bees. * Added over 1 million service miles on Spring Change Day 2025. * The 2024-2025 winter season saw a 3% Ski Bus ridership increase and exceeded 400,000 boardings. * Approved the purchase of 20 brand-new TRAX cars from Utah-based Stadler - the first of their kind in the system. Built in Utah, these new locally manufactured cars will feature level boarding throughout UTA's system, making it easier and faster for everyone to ride. * Opened the BYU Central Campus Station, a new Utah Valley Express bus station to better serve BYU campus and the Provo community. * UTA was awarded $41 million in federal funding through two separate Federal Transit Administration grants to upgrade the bus fleet with new clean diesel and natural gas buses. Coming in 2026 The upcoming year will bring more service, frequency and improvements to UTA's growing ridership, including: * Bus expansion: Opening of the MVX route and hiring of additional operators for Spring Change Day * S-Line extension construction to begin in early 2026 - expected to be complete in 2027. * UTA working with UDOT and Utah County to launch innovative mobility services in Northern Utah County by fall 2026. * Building improvements such as the new Ogden Admin Building and Jordan River operations, maintenance, and training facilities. "2025 was a year that showed the strength and momentum of public transit in Utah," said Jay Fox, executive director at the Utah Transit Authority. "Serving more than 40 million customers reflects the trust placed in UTA every day. As Utah continues to grow, we're focused on expanding access, improving frequency, and investing in modern infrastructure. Earning APTA's top system award and accelerating projects like the Midvalley Express are clear signs of our regional commitment and success. We're proud of the progress we've made and excited about what's ahead for UTA customers across the Wasatch Front." Established in 1970, the Utah Transit Authority is a multimodal public transportation agency that serves six counties along the Wasatch Front and provides tens of millions of passenger rides each year. UTA's fleet is ADA accessible and offers fixed-route bus, bus rapid transit, streetcar, light rail, commuter rail, express, ski, paratransit, vanpool and microtransit services.

UTA partnered with Veo to bring electric bikes and scooters to campus for students' convenience.