For nearly three years, UTA has provided service to Pleasant View via FrontRunner with four daily trips. Beginning today, the connecting service will be provided by bus, but with more daily trips.
Hopefully the additional service will help to bring new transit riders on board. The ridership on FrontRunner has failed to grow between Ogden and Pleasant View due in large part to the shuttle’s limited schedule. Unfortunately, more FrontRunner service to Pleasant View has not been possible due to a major limiting factor; UTA doesn’t own the track between Ogden and Pleasant View.
Instead of running on its own track, as it does from Ogden to Salt Lake City, UTA operates on track owned and operated by the freight railroad. A shared-operating agreement allows UTA to run a maximum of three round trips in the morning and three in the evening. The remainder of the day is dedicated to freight, limiting UTA’s ability to schedule additional trips that would attract more riders.
The same budget previously spent providing four FrontRunner round trips from Ogden to Pleasant View will now be used to provide 17 bus round trips that will serve additional locations throughout the community.
The long-term success of FrontRunner service north of Ogden depends on two key factors: its ability to attract riders and by providing regular and frequent service.
To accomplish this, UTA needs to acquire its own right-of-way and build and operate on its own set of tracks. Steps are already being taking toward this goal. A portion of transit funds collected in Box Elder County are being dedicated toward preserving railroad corridor from the Weber County line north to Brigham City. UTA is working with elected officials in Weber County to set aside similar funds collected there to acquire right-of-way between Ogden and Pleasant View.
