UTA's free-fare day adds 29K riders
The agency said the single-day ridership on FrontRunner commuter trains was up by 66% for a total of 30,016 boardings, while ridership on the TRAX light rail was up by 32%, for a total of 79,825 boardings.
he agency estimated the free rides day translated into an extra 22,829 riders, helped remove 17,560 cars from the road, and prevented three tons of pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases that day.
UTA
SALT LAKE CITY — A free ride promotion by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) on the Friday before Christmas generated an estimated 23,000 extra passengers on the agency’s rail system, with bus ridership staying flat, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
The agency said the single-day ridership on FrontRunner commuter trains was up by 66% for a total of 30,016 boardings, while ridership on the TRAX light rail was up by 32%, for a total of 79,825 boardings.
Overall on all trains, buses and streetcars, UTA figures ridership increased by 31,732 boardings — up 23% compared with the average of the five preceding weekdays. The agency estimated the free rides day translated into an extra 22,829 riders, helped remove 17,560 cars from the road, and prevented three tons of pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases that day. For the full story, click here.
More Management
PSTA Modernizes Workforce Management with Digital Bidding System
The award-winning Workforce Transit Modernization project replaced paper bidding with a transparent digital platform, cutting administrative effort while improving access for operators.
Read More →
Chicago to Host Public Transportation's Biggest Gathering at APTA TRANSform & EXPO 2026
North America’s largest public transportation gathering returns to Chicago, connecting transit decision-makers with the technologies, ideas, and partnerships driving the industry forward.
Read More →
New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies: Joshua Schank on Making Transit Innovation Stick
Former LA Metro Chief Innovation Officer Joshua Schank discusses why good ideas aren't enough, how transit agencies can overcome resistance to change, and why today's challenges demand more innovation.
Read More →
Washington's Community Transit Sets Six-Year Roadmap for Growth, Expansion
Approved TDP targets more bus service, new mobility options, Swift BRT expansion, and a potential Everett Transit annexation.
Read More →
OKC Streetcar Makes Zero-Fare Service Permanent
Ridership increased an average of 71% compared with the same period a year earlier during the fare-free pilot.
Read More →
DART Customer Satisfaction Reaches Six-Year High
Overall satisfaction rose to 74.9%, while the agency’s Net Promoter Score reached a record 33.7.
Read More →
House Surface Transportation Bill Advances as Transit Funding Debate Intensifies
A bipartisan transportation package moving through Congress could redefine how the U.S. funds highways, transit, and motorcoach travel, while igniting new fights over electrification, regulation, and federal priorities.
Read More →
How Data, Strategy, and Community Engagement Are Reshaping Transit
In this edition of METROspectives, strada360 CEO Steve Lassey discusses how transit agencies can better align planning with operations, leverage data to improve decision-making, and build public trust as they prepare for the future of mobility.
Read More →
Amtrak Board Advances Plan to Restructure Organization, Seeks Public Input
The proposal, developed by Amtrak management and approved by the board for further consideration, is intended to modernize the organization's structure while improving accountability, operational efficiency, and customer service.
Read More →
Turn Transit Data Into Action
Discover how leading agencies are using connected technology to gain real-time visibility across operations, improve service reliability, and reduce disruptions.
Read More →