Category Trains of Thought

UTA Offering Summer Shuttle Service from FrontRunner to Lagoon

0 comments Filed in Trains of Thought Tagged with , , , , , , , , , June 14th, 2013 @ 5:33 pm
Lagoon

Attention thrill-seekers, sunbathers and funnel cake lovers. UTA is now offering weekday and Saturday shuttle service from FrontRunner to Lagoon, making it easy to enjoy the park’s attractions without fighting traffic or paying to park.

Route 667 connects riders at Farmington FrontRunner station with Lagoon. The shuttles run every 30 minutes from 8:05 a.m. until 11:15 p.m. on weekdays and 12:20 a.m. on weekends. The shuttle, along with all UTA services, is closed on July 4. The shuttle will operate on July 24. The Lagoon shuttle also connects to bus route 455 at the Farmington Station and State and Main stops.

Please note that FrontRunner and route 667 are closed on Sundays. Route 455 operates Monday through Friday.

Lagoon is just one of the Wasatch Front amusement and water parks that are easily accessible from public transportation. Here are a few of our favorites that can be reached by UTA.

Cherry Hill

www.cherry-hill.com

1325 South Main Street, Kaysville

Accessible by bus route 470

Cowabunga Bay

www.cowabungabay.com

12047 S. State Street, Draper 84020

Accessible by bus routes 201, 811

Seven Peaks Salt Lake City

www.sevenpeaks.com

1200 W. 1700 South, Salt Lake City

Accessible by bus route 509

Seven Peaks Provo

www.sevenpeaks.com

1330 E. 300 North, Provo

Accessible by bus routes 831 and 832

Seven Peaks Fun Center Lehi

www.sevenpeaks.com

1320 North 300 West, Lehi

Accessible by bus route 811

Seven Peaks Fun Center Orem

www.sevenpeaks.com

168 S. 1200 West, Orem

Accessible by bus route 862

Ride Clear – Your Pass to Cleaner Air

5 comments Filed in Featured, Trains of Thought Tagged with , , , , , June 10th, 2013 @ 4:34 pm
Ride Clear – Your Pass to Cleaner Air

Along the Wasatch Front, there are a few things that you can count on each summer. There will be the sound of the ice cream truck making its way down the street, the smell of lilacs in bloom, and inevitably, the sight of a smoggy haze settling over the valley.

Poor air quality has become an unpleasant fact of life along the Wasatch Front, and it can even impact some residents’ health. Salt Lake and Davis Counties alone experienced 34 yellow and nine red air quality days last summer. The Utah Department of Air Quality estimates that one in three Utahns experience respiratory problems during poor air quality days.

In an effort to help improve air quality, UTA and Zions Bank have teamed up to create the UTA Ride Clear program. The program is designed to encourage residents to reduce pollution by taking public transportation, especially on poor air quality days.

As part of the Ride Clear program, the first 2,500 people who pledge to improve air quality by riding public transit in July will receive a free seven-day UTA pass.

“We looked at the air quality issue and felt like we had a unique opportunity to do something to help,” said UTA General Manager Michael Allegra. “We hope people take advantage of this new program, especially on days when the air is really bad. Taking any cars off the road during times when the summer air stagnates is good for everyone.”

The Ride Clear Pass allows you to ride transit for seven consecutive days, free of charge.

To register for a Ride Clear pass, go to www.utarideclear.com. Ride Clear passes can be used for seven consecutive days of unlimited travel on TRAX, FrontRunner and UTA buses. The electronic passes will be activated on July 1 and will expire on July 31. There is a limit of two passes per household.

Don’t forget to check back here and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more information about the Ride Clear program. We’ll be announcing an exciting contest and sharing tips about what you can do to help us all breathe a little easier this summer.

Ride UTA to Fresh Food and Fun at Local Farmers Markets

2 comments Filed in Featured, Trains of Thought Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , June 7th, 2013 @ 6:00 pm
Ride UTA to Fresh Food and Fun at Local Farmers Markets

Is there any better way to spend a summer morning than perusing piles of fresh produce, stopping to smell bunches of freshly picked flowers or sampling artisan preserves and homemade bread? This week marks the opening of farmers markets along the Wasatch Front, many of which are easily accessible from public transportation. We’ve listed 10 of the dozens of farmers markets that can easily be reached by TRAX or bus. For a full list of markets along the Wasatch Front, click here.

Bountiful Farmers Market

www.bountifulmainstreet.com

Thursdays, 3 – 7 p.m. from June 21 to Oct. 13

100 E. 100 South, Bountiful

Accessible via bus route 470.

Downtown Farmers Market

www.slcfarmersmarket.org

Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Tuesdays, 4 p.m. – dusk from June 8 to Oct. 10

Pioneer Park, 400 S. 400 West, Salt Lake City

Accessible via Old Greek Town and Planetarium stations on the TRAX Blue Line and bus routes 509 and 516.

Vendors display their goods at the Downtown Farmers Market

Historic 25th Street Farmers and Art Market

www.ogdenfarmersmarket.com

Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. from July 14 to Sept. 29

Downtown Ogden Municipal Gardens, 25th St. and Grant Ave., Ogden

Accessible via bus routes 470, 603, and 612.

Lehi Farmers Market

www.lehifarmersmarket.com

Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. from Aug. 17 to Oct. 12

1870 N. State Street, Lehi

Accessible via bus route 811.

Millcreek Farmers Market

www.millcreekventureout.org

Fridays, 5  – 8:45 p.m. from June 7 to Aug. 30

June 7 market located at Canyon Rim Park, 2900 S. 3100 East. Future markets held at parks around the city.

Canyon Rim Park is located a short walk from bus routes 33 and 228.

Murray Farmers Market

Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. from Aug. 2 to Oct. 12

Murray City Park, 200 E. 5200 South

Accessible via bus routes 200 and 201.

Provo Farmers Market

provofarmersmarket.blogspot.com/

Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. from June 1 to Sept. 1

Pioneer Park, 500 W. Center Street, Provo

Accessible via bus route 836.

South Jordan Farmers Market

Saturdays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. from Aug. 3 to Oct. 26

South Jordan Towne Center, 10610 S. Redwood Road

Accessible via bus routes 217 and 218.

Sugar House Farmers Market

www.sugarhousefarmersmarket.com

Fridays, 4 – 8 p.m. from July 5 to Oct. 11

Sugar House Park, 2100 S. 1500 East

Accessible via bus routes 21, 220 and 223.

University of Utah Campus Farmers Market

www.sustainability.utah.edu/operations/food/farmers-market

Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. from Aug. 29 – Oct. 10

Tanner Plaza, University of Utah Campus

Accessible via TRAX Red Line and bus routes 220, 213, 223, 228, 313, 354,

455 and 473.

Photos courtesy of the Downtown Alliance.

Supporting Minority-Owned Businesses Through the DBE Program

Filed in Trains of Thought Tagged with , , , , , , , June 3rd, 2013 @ 6:43 pm
Supporting Minority-Owned Businesses Through the DBE Program

This week, UTA and other organizations around the state are celebrating a program that helps disadvantaged businesses compete for federally funded contracts.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Recognition Week runs today, Monday, June 3, through Friday, June 7. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program is part of a Department of Transportation initiative to help businesses owned by minorities and women participate in transportation construction projects. Since 2001, UTA has spent more than 7.5 percent of its federal funding for transit projects with DBE-certified firms.

Business owner Sara Ofahengaue said the DBE Program has been an important part of her company’s success. Ofahengaue owns Lehi-based AAA Barricades, which provides traffic control for construction projects, including the Sugar House Streetcar transit line. She said that the DBE program is one of the reasons she is able to offer steady employment to more than 100 employees, rather than relying on temporary staffing companies like many of her competitors.

“It’s a tremendous program that gives you the opportunity to compete with other companies in your field,” Ofahengaue said.

To become certified for the DBE Program, companies must be at least 51-percent owned and controlled by minorities, women or other individuals who face economic obstacles in the marketplace. The owners must have a personal net worth that falls below a set limit and meet the Small Business Association’s criteria.

The DBE Program is part of a congressional provision passed in 1983. It requires that at least 10 percent of the federal funding authorized for highway and transit programs be spent with DBEs. DBE Recognition week will be marked by proclamations from Governor Gary Herbert, Salt Lake City Mayor Ben Adams and the Utah House of Representatives.

More information about UTA’s DBE program is available here.

Keeping the Air Clear for UTA Passengers, Operators and Employees

Filed in Featured, Trains of Thought Tagged with , , , , , , , , , May 31st, 2013 @ 8:46 pm
Keeping the Air Clear for UTA Passengers, Operators and Employees

Did you know that tobacco kills more than six million people every year, 600,000 of whom are victims of second-hand smoke? What about the fact that almost half of current smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease? That’s pretty frightening stuff, which is why at UTA, we’re doing our part to keep the air clear for our riders, operators and employees.

Tobacco usage is prohibited on UTA systems under the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act. This includes electronic cigarettes and smokeless products like chewing tobacco. According to state policy, electronic cigarettes are banned under the Clean Air Act because they have not been scientifically evaluated and may emit nicotine and carcinogens into the air.

On May 1, UTA became a tobacco-free workplace, joining more than 2,300 organizations around the state, as well as national companies like AT&T, Coca Cola, General Mills, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Lowe’s, Nordstrom, Target and Union Pacific.

This means that tobacco use is no longer allowed anywhere on UTA property, including UTA parking lots and in vehicles parked at UTA facilities. Riders who wish to use tobacco must first leave UTA property. Salt Lake City also has a law that prohibits smoking within 25 feet of a bus stop.

So, the next time you’re riding FrontRunner, TRAX or a bus, take a deep, smoke-free breath. We’re trying to keep the air as clean as possible, and we appreciate your help.

Statistics on the dangers of smoking courtesy of the World Health Organization.

Isis Extends Free Rides on UTA Offer

Filed in Featured, Trains of Thought Tagged with , , , , , , May 30th, 2013 @ 8:29 pm
Isis Extends Free Rides on UTA Offer

Good news, Isis users! The promotion, which allows people to use the Isis app to ride UTA for free, has been so popular that Isis is extending the offer through Sept. 30, 2013.

Most people know that Isis is a contactless payment app available on phones equipped with near field communication (NFC) technology.   You probably have seen people tapping their phones on a UTA electronic card reader on buses or at rail stations.  Chances are that they were using the Isis Mobile Wallet to pay their fare.  To use Isis on UTA, you first need a phone that is NFC enabled.  Next download the Isis app.  After activating the app, simply tap it on a UTA card reader. When you receive a green light, you have a free ride, courtesy of Isis.

To learn more about how to use Isis, click here. You can also watch the video below to see how to ride UTA using the Isis app.

The Importance of Keeping UTA Trains on Schedule

Filed in Trains of Thought May 28th, 2013 @ 4:37 pm
The Importance of Keeping UTA Trains on Schedule

Most of us have had a missed-train moment.   You sprint to the train at a pace matched only by Usain Bolt.  You hit that door-open button with rapid-fire gamer’s skill.  And still, the doors lock shut and the train pulls away.

Why didn’t the operator open the door?  Was she just being mean?  No, the operator was not being mean – she simply has a schedule to keep.  Our TRAX and FrontRunner trains run on very tight schedules.  Like most train systems, UTA has sections of track and shared by different trains and uses switches to change between tracks.  TRAX’s Red and Blue lines, for example, share track along Main Street in Salt Lake City and a switch at 400 South. TRAX trains have scheduled times to use that switch.  If a train runs late, it not only causes delays on the Red Line but would affect the Blue Line, too.

In order to keep trains on schedule, we plan for approximately a 30-second dwell time at each station.  Thirty seconds is normally enough time for most passengers to push the door button, climb on board and sit down.  After that time the train operator pushes a button to start locking out the doors so the train can depart and stay on schedule.  With such a tight boarding window and schedule to follow, it is critical that passengers arrive at the station a few minutes before the train leaves.

While we don’t want to leave you at the station, we do have a schedule to keep.  TRAX trains run every 15 minutes on weekdays and 20 minutes on weekends.  FrontRunner runs every 30 minutes during weekday peak hours and every hour and a half during off peak weekday hours and on Saturdays.  The next time you are running to catch the train, be safe, slow down and consider waiting for the next train.

Summer Holiday Service Closures

Filed in Trains of Thought Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , May 24th, 2013 @ 5:50 pm
Summer Holiday Service Closures

With Memorial Day just around the corner, we’d like to remind passengers of UTA’s summer holiday service closures.

UTA will not offer bus, TRAX or FrontRunner service on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27; Independence Day, July 4; or Labor Day, Sept. 2. Limited service is available on Pioneer Day, July 24, with buses and TRAX following a Sunday service schedule and FrontRunner following a Saturday service schedule.

Like many businesses and organizations, UTA was negatively affected by the recession and has had to make difficult decisions about where to allocate funding. By limiting service on days when ridership is lowest, such as holidays, we are able to maintain service at times when more people use the system.

More information on how holiday service hours are set is available here.  A full list of 2013 holiday closures is available here.

Artists Needed for Draper TRAX Line

Filed in Featured, Trains of Thought Tagged with , , , , , , , May 23rd, 2013 @ 4:55 pm
Artists Needed for Draper TRAX Line

Want to help turn the Kimballs Lane Station into a work of art? UTA wants to hear from you!

UTA is currently accepting applications for artwork at the station, located at 11796 S. 700 East in Draper. Kimballs Lane Station will be part of the Draper TRAX Line extension, which is scheduled to open to the public in August. Artwork will be installed at the station in early 2014.

UTA is looking for artwork that reflects the culture and history of Draper. The city was one of the earliest settlements in Utah and began as a farming community. The city also has a rich history of promoting the arts, with educator Reid Beck starting the first Draper Arts Collection in the 1920s using money donated by school children, families and local business owners. Today, the city is also known for its trails and parks, hang gliding, and its growing number of technology businesses, including eBay, Edwards Lifesciences and EMS.

The project is part of the Art in Transit program, designed to enhance the public transportation experience and showcase the history and culture of the Wasatch Front, and is supported by UTA and Draper City.

Qualifications for the program must be submitted by noon on June 12. The artwork will be placed between the two-foot by four-foot covered canopies on the train platform, although the artwork may incorporate other areas of the station. The finalist will be selected by members of the Draper City Art in Transit committee, which includes representatives from the Draper City Council and staff, the Draper Arts Council, the Draper Visual Arts Foundation and UTA.

Additional details and deadlines are available here. Questions can be directed to sallnatt@rideuta.com.

Bus Mural Reflects Payson’s Rich History

Filed in Featured, Trains of Thought Tagged with , , , , , , , May 22nd, 2013 @ 6:13 pm
Bus Mural Reflects Payson's Rich History

A bright new piece of transit art was unveiled in Payson on May 20. Artist and Mt. Nebo Junior High School teacher Jordan C. Brun designed the bus mural with the help of students from the school’s visual arts program. The mural can be seen at the bus shelter at 1000 E. 100 North in Payson, in front of Mountain View Hospital.

Artist Jordan C. Brun poses in front of the mural he created with help from local students

The mural was designed to reflect the history of the area, Brun said, including Ute Chief Peteetneet, the historic Peteetneet School and the pioneers who settled the area.

“‘Payson History’ is a mural about visions, potential, and linking our past with our future,” he said. “When I volunteered to do the Payson mural for UTA’s bus stop, I did a bit of research at the Payson Historical Society at Peteetneet School.  I was able to get some imagery of who Chief Peteetneet was and how the early pioneers of this area of Utah Valley came to develop and create a community.”

Brun was assisted by students Kayden Young and Caleb Vance, who helped him add color to the piece. The artist said he hopes it inspires others to improve their communities.

“My hope is that this piece will become a talking point for those who wait and have waited at this UTA stop and encourages others to donate their time and efforts to creating other public works for the benefit of community,” he said.

The project is part of UTA’s Art in Transit program, designed to enhance the public transportation experience and showcase the history and culture of the Wasatch Front. It will become the latest of 15 bus shelter murals along the Wasatch Front.

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