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TO: |
Board of Trustees |
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THROUGH: |
Jay Fox, Executive Director |
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FROM: |
Nichol Bourdeaux, Chief Planning & Engagement Officer |
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PRESENTER(S): |
Megan Waters, Community Engagement Director |
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Russ Fox, Planning Director |
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Monica Howe, Fares Director |
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Eric Callison, Manager of Service Planning |
TITLE:
title
Service and Fare April Change Day Proposals 2025 & 2026: Overview for Public Engagement
end
AGENDA ITEM TYPE:
Discussion
RECOMMENDATION:
Informational item for discussion
BACKGROUND:
In efforts to improve timing of processes at UTA, our major change day is being moved to April annually. The first two years of the Five-Year (2025-2029) Service Plan will be evaluated for implementation through this Title VI and public engagement process.
Major changes are changes that are required to undergo a Title VI analysis and public engagement process based on the following criteria:
• Addition of service: meaning the creation of a new bus route or the opening of a new rail line
• Proposed service level change in miles, hours, or trips of 33% or more
• Elimination of all service during a time period (peak, midday, evening, Saturday, or Sunday)
• Proposed 25% or greater change in route alignment
• Proposed fare change
Service Change Proposals Background:
The service change proposals are a direct reflection of the UTA Five-Year Service Plan (5YSP), which is updated every two years. The final draft Five-Year Service Plan, currently under review, includes multiple proposed changes for April 2025 and 2026. These changes are based on analysis done in conjunction with the 5YSP, as well as significant community engagement both before and during the 5YSP process.
Fare Change Proposal Background:
In January 2021, UTA kicked off a fares project with Clevor Consulting Group (Clevor) to complete a study of the organization’s fare collection systems. The purpose of the study was to review UTA’s fare objectives and goals, assess the current state of the fare collection subsystems, identify needs that did not meet these subsystems, and recommend actions and strategies.
Since then, UTA has moved forward with Clevor’s recommendation to procure a new, fully integrated, vendor-hosted, and account-based, electronic fare collection system. In March 2023 the Board of Trustees approved a recommendation from management to execute a contract with Scheidt & Bachmann to deliver a new fare collection system.
The new fare collection system aligns with the Fare Policy’s guiding principles which include a fare structure that is simple and easy for riders to understand, fare payment that maximizes the convenience of paying fares, allows for seamless travel between modes, and is equitable.
The features that will be rolled out as part of the new system will give customers an improved fare payment experience. Fares will be simplified by eliminating multiple fare products that customers must choose from when deciding to ride transit. Instead, customers will set up pre-paid, reloadable accounts that are associated with fare media such as electronic tap cards, bank cards, and mobile phones.
Customers will pay fare and validate their payment by tapping the fare media on electronic card readers located on buses and rail platforms. Fare pricing will be done automatically in the back office and the customer will be charged the least expensive fare rate based on their travel patterns and eligibility for reduced fare discounts.
Reduced fare discounts will be managed through UTA’s new account-based ticketing back office (ABT). This software system performs all the functions necessary to run the electronic fare collection and will bring all UTA’s current systems under one umbrella, including the current reduced fare application portal.
UTA is starting the final phases of the project. To achieve UTA’s vision of an integrated fare collection system, fare changes are being proposed. A Title VI analysis and public engagement process must be completed for proposed fare changes.
DISCUSSION:
Service Change Proposals:
The proposed service changes are being presented to the UTA Board of Trustees in this preliminary format in anticipation of a final Title VI analysis and public hearing process associated with Change Day. The public engagement process will kick off following the November 13 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Once these steps are complete, the finalized changes and Title VI analysis will be presented to the Board for approval. 2025 service changes are planned for implementation on 4/13/2025; 2026 service changes are planned for implementation on 4/12/2026.
April 2025
Box Elder, Weber, Davis Counties 2025
Route 417 - New*
Route 470 - Realignments or Frequency Changes
Route 626 - Discontinued*
Route 627 - Realignments or Frequency Changes*
Route 628 - Realignments or Frequency Changes*
Route 640 - Realignments or Frequency Changes*
Route 642 - New*
Salt Lake County 2025
Route 39 - Realignments or Frequency Changes
Route 126 - New*
Route 201 - Realignments or Frequency Changes
Route 217 - Realignments or Frequency Changes
Route 218 - Realignments or Frequency Changes
Route 219 - New*
Route 703 (Red Line) - New Station
Utah County 2025
West Provo IMZ (581) - New*
Route 823 - New*
Route 871 - Realignments or Frequency Changes
April 2026
Box Elder, Weber, Davis Counties 2026
North Weber IMZ (562) - New*
Brigham City IMZ (563) - New*
Route 455 - Realignments or Frequency Changes
Route 601 - Discontinued*
Route 604 - Realignments or Frequency Changes*
Route 610 - New*
Route 612 - Realignments or Frequency Changes
Route 625 - Discontinued*
Route 628 - Discontinued*
Route 630 - Realignments or Frequency Changes*
Route F638 - Discontinued*
Route 640 - Realignments or Frequency Changes*
Route 645 - Realignments or Frequency Changes*
Salt Lake County 2026
Salt Lake City Westside On Demand - Expanded*
Route 2 - Discontinued*
Route 2A & 2B - New*
Route 4 - Realignments or Frequency Changes*
Route 45 - Realignments or Frequency Changes*
Route 54 - Realignments or Frequency Changes*
Route 62 - Realignments or Frequency Changes
Route 72 - Realignments or Frequency Changes
Route 205 - Realignments or Frequency Changes*
Route 220 - Realignments or Frequency Changes
Route 223 - Realignments or Frequency Changes*
S-Line (Route 720) - Realignments or Frequency Changes
Utah County 2026
Lehi IMZ (582) - New*
Route 806 - Discontinued*
Route 846 - New*
Route 850 - Realignments or Frequency Changes
Route 860 - New*
Route 862 - Realignments or Frequency Changes*
Fare Change Proposals
In preparation for the new fare collection system over the next couple of years, UTA’s current fare products, including paper passes, will be replaced with best fare pricing using electronic fare media. Exact timelines are to be determined. The ticket options listed below will be phased out and replaced by pre-paid, reloadable accounts.
Paper Tickets
All paper tickets vended through ticket vending machines (TVMs) will be replaced by electronic fare media. The TVMs will vend FAREPAY cards. The newly installed TVMs are currently operating the same way the old TVMs have been for 20 years. However, work is being done to improve the screen flow and add new functionality. Customers will be able to purchase FAREPAY cards, load funds to their account using cash or credit payment, and check card balances at all TVMs. The list of full and reduced fare tickets being replaced includes:
• One-way
• Round Trip
• Upgrade Ticket
• Group Pass
• Day Pass
Monthly Passes
UTA customer service locations, online, and retailers will no longer sell monthly passes. Currently, for customers using the FAREPAY card, best fare is automatically calculated using fare capping technology. This functionality will be carried over with the new system. The monthly passes being eliminated include:
• Reduced fare monthly stickers (RF, XRF)
• Reduced fare monthly pass (R, XR)
• Full fare monthly pass (A, X)
Mobile App
UTA has not started development of the new mobile app, however, the tickets that are expected to be replaced by pre-paid, reloadable accounts are listed below. This information may slightly change as the new mobile app gets developed.
1. Day Pass
2. One-way (full or reduced fare)
3. One-way FrontRunner (full or reduced fare)
4. Monthly Regular (full or reduced fare)
5. Monthly Premium (full or reduced fare)
6. One-way Ski Pass, Seasonal (full or reduced fare)
7. Group Pass (premium pass for 4 people)
8. Riders License, Seasonal (discounted youth pass)
9. One-way Paratransit (passengers must pre-qualify)
10. Flex Route Deviation (flex route only)
11. Special Event Pass
Additional fare changes that are part of this proposal include:
• Paper transfers issued by bus operators will be eliminated. Currently, transfer credits are automatically applied for fare payment made with electronic fare media. Customers paying cash at the farebox will not receive a paper transfer. To receive a transfer credit, cash must be paid at TVMs, UTA customer service locations, or retailers by adding funds to a FAREPAY card.
• Route 628 (Layton Trolley) will move from zero to paid fare. In April 2025, the regular fare of $2.50 will be required because the service agreement with Layton City will be terminated. The trolley-style bus route will be modified in the service plan, including route alignment (see above in Service Change section).
• Reduced fare discounts will only be available for customers using electronic fare media, cash payments made through the farebox will not be eligible for a discount. Customers paying with cash can add funds to an electronic card at TVMs, UTA customer service locations, and retailers.
• Reduced fare plastic ID cards will be phased out because they cannot be read or validated by the electronic card readers. Since this card is not compatible with the new back office it will be retired.
ALTERNATIVES:
Alternatively, the Board could request revisions to this proposal or to delay the proposed plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Service Fiscal Impacts: Projected increase of 912,979 miles per year and 83,775 hours per year, for an estimated increase in O&M expense of $6,843,046 per year.
Fares Fiscal Impacts: Projected increase of $86,000 in fare revenue.
ATTACHMENTS:
None