How does one utilize the mass transit system in Salt Lake City, Utah? Seems a stupid question but, most people in Salt Lake don't even know how.

Fare Rates

You need to know the fare rate of which there are many. Rates change on a yearly basis.

Children 5 and under ride free, but only one per adult. i.e. if you have two adults and 3 children under 5, you will have to pay full fare for one child.

Full Fare:
This is the standard rate for both the bus and the lightrail trains (TRAX). It is good for a period of two hours. This can be purchased at a TRAX kiosk or from the bus driver.

Reduced Fare:
This rate is for the disabled and elderly, the customer has to apply to obtain a reduced fare card that they have to show to the bus driver when they board.

Premium Fare:
This rate is for those travelling to areas outside of the Salt Lake Valley and applies to those busses running to Provo/Orem, Tooele, and Ogden.

Monthly Passes

There are also monthly passes available, these can be used on both busses and TRAX.

Adult: The standard pass.

Eco Pass: This is a company sponsored transit pass.

Minor: This is for those under the age of 18.

Ski Pass: This is a round trip ticket up to the local ski resorts. There is also a shuttle that runs between the resorts.

Student: This pass is for college students only.

Summer Youth Pass: This is for those under the age of 18 and is valid for the months of June, July, and August.

Day passes are not available at the time of this write up.

Riding

Where are you?

If you are in downtown Salt Lake when you get onto the bus, you will not pay your fare until you get off the bus. This is due to the "Free Fare Zone" which encompasses approximately 4 square blocks of Salt Lake City. If you are not in downtown, you will pay when you get on.

If you are riding a shuttle (any bus that does not go into downtown) you will pay your fare when you get on the bus.

For TRAX, you must purchase your ticket from the kiosk at the platform prior to boarding the train. There are UTA police who check for tickets and will fine you for "theft of services".

The Paratransit service (Locally called Flextrans for Salt Lake City only) is a curb to curb bus service that helps patrons who are unable to take advantage of the regular bus service due to infirmity or handicap. The Paratransit busses are much smaller and specially
equipped for the needs of the patrons using the service. Rides can be
scheduled as far in advance as a week, or as quickly as 24 hours.
Special fares are built in to this service depending on the needs of
the patron.

UTA runs all of its routes Monday through Friday, from about 5:30AM until 7:00PM, during the day. It runs approximately 50% of its routes on Saturdays from about 6:00AM until 8:00PM. It also has service on sunday for approximately 20% of its routes from 10:00AM until 6:00PM.

There are also several night routes that run from 7:00PM until Midnight.

Entering and Exiting

This might seem a stupid thing to put in here but, there is a point to it. With some mass transit systems you enter through the front door and exit through the back door. Not so with UTA, if you are leaving downtown, you enter and exit through the front door because you are not paying until you get off. If you are going towards downtown you enter through the front and exit through either the front of back door.

When you want to exit the bus all you need to do is pull on the cord that is strung across the windows, this will alert the driver who will then stop at the next designated bus stop. TRAX stops at all designated stops.

Other Useful Information

Bus stops are blue and white signs with a picture of a bus on it. If you need to know when a bus is coming by that stop, the UTA phone number is listed on the sign along with all routes that serve that stop.

UTA goes most places in the Salt Lake Valley, it does go to all of the tourist attractions such as Lagoon Amusement Park and Temple Square.

TRAX has wheelchair access at the front of the first car.

Busses have a bicycle rack that is mounted to the front of the bus.

With the exception of the front car, four bicycles can be brought onto each car on TRAX, 2 at the front and 2 at the back.

It is not nearly as convenient as Taxi service, assuming you are within certain limits of downtown Salt Lake but it is also not nearly as expensive.

Taxis can only be hailed within a certain area of Salt Lake City, if you are outside those boundaries, you have to call the taxi company.