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TO: |
Board of Trustees |
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THROUGH: |
Jay Fox, Executive Director |
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FROM: |
Vi Miller, Chief Financial Officer |
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PRESENTER(S): |
Monica Howe, Fares Director |
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TITLE:
title
R2025-12-07 - Resolution Authorizing Zero Fare on the Midvalley Express (MVX) From April Change Day 2026 through April Change Day 2029
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AGENDA ITEM TYPE:
Resolution
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution R2025-12-07 to authorize Zero Fare on Midvalley Express through April 2029.
BACKGROUND:
The Midvalley Express rapid bus (“MVX”) is expected to open in April 2026 for service from the West Valley Central Station to the Murray Central Station. UTA will receive grant funding to offset a portion of the operational costs for three (3) years.
On July 12, 2023, the Board of Trustees approved a grant funding agreement from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program for construction costs totaling $2,000,000. Subsequently, on April 25, 2025, the Board authorized and approved a resolution for an additional $2,300,000 in grant funding. On June 25, 2025, an amendment to the initial grant resolution was approved and executed to reallocate the funds from construction to operational costs.
Historically, fares are collected and used to offset the operational costs of transit services. Because UTA is receiving grant funds for the MVX service, UTA will waive fare collection from MVX riders during this three (3) year period.
Fare rates are governed by Board Policy 4.1. The policy requires that special fare rates including pilot programs, promotions, specially priced programs, and discounts to base fare rates be approved by the Board of Trustees.
DISCUSSION:
Staff recommend not collecting fare to ride the MVX rapid bus for three (3) years beginning April 12, 2026 (Change Day) and continuing through April change day, 2029. By waiving the collection of fares, the Authority considers this to be a zero-fare service.
Resolution R2025-12-07 will authorize zero fare for MVX through April 2029.
ALTERNATIVES:
Do not approve the Resolution and do not accept the MVX line as zero fare and require passengers to pay the public fare rate.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Waived fare revenue that will be replaced by grant revenue to cover MVX operating costs is estimated to be about $1,394,619.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Resolution 2025-12-07