Utah Transit Authority will likely add holiday service to its 2015 operating schedule. The agency gave preliminary approval to its budget today, which includes money for improved Wi-Fi on Frontrunner and the addition of TRAX and bus service on July 4th, Labor Day and Memorial Day.
The new holiday service would operate on a Saturday schedule, which is somewhat less frequent than weekday service. Remi Barron says the agency has extra money now that it’s finished up major rail projects, freeing up some administrative costs. He says increasing holiday service was on the agenda before hundreds of residents petitioned UTA this summer for more late-night service.
“We’re looking at the late night service. We just have to do these things as they’re studied and finalized and they take a little bit of time, but adding holidays is something we knew we could budget for and we knew it’s something that the public wanted.”
The agency eliminated several bus routes in recent years as additional rail-lines were added. It’s unclear if any of those routes will return.
According to the proposed budget, UTA will not increase fares in 2015, but will continue to study the possibility of distance-based fares and mobile payments.
The full UTA board will finalize the $347 million dollar budget on October 22nd.
The budget year begins January 1st.
