Changes at UTA

Last week, starting Monday, August 24th, UTA rearranged things in their semi-annual change day. Nothing new here, except... two major things they changed are worth a closer look: flexible routes and a Murray-University line.

Every half hour, Monday through Friday, a new route will run from Murray to the University. This doesn't alter the frequency of the other two lines, making it so a train flies through 16 different stations a total of 6 times an hour! This 50% increase does come with a slight cost: it doesn't run after 7:30 PM, and the Sandy line doesn't go all the way downtown. Actually, it goes to the Arena station, which is in the heart of downtown, it just doesn't hit the three stations after that. You have to transfer to a University line.

Color Code:
Blue = Sandy
Red = University
Green = Murray
Black = Downtown

I wonder what they will use for West Valley and Draper? Purple? Yellow? Orange? Hmm... all the good colors are taken...

Second, UTA has started a new kind of bus route, using the "Shuttle" type buses (this is the kind CATS used in Cedar City, which is kind of interesting). These routes are set, given, and... flexible? If you call in at least two hours ahead, the bus line will shift up to 3/4 of a mile to come pick you up. At your front door. Or, conversely, they'd do the same thing on the way home (also requiring advance notice). Dropping you off at your front door. Pretty nifty, eh? Three routes: all of them suburban. Maybe this is a form of mass transit people can get used to and ride, even in the less densely populated suburban areas. It'd sure be easier to take the kids...



Dear UTA, when MAX has a dedicated lane and the rail is up to Valley Fair, please put in a flex line instead of the regular 35. It would make a lot more sense. And then I could get picked up at my door, instead of trudging through the snow.