South Valley Transit Study
UTA Seeks Public Input on Transit Improvements in South Utah County
The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) and Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG), with the help of your feedback, have identified a Locally Preferred Alternative that includes extending the commuter rail from Provo to Payson and adding express bus service from Payson to Santaquin. The study team is now seeking feedback from the community on how the Locally Preferred Alternative could meet your transit needs. You can provide feedback in the following ways:
1. Visit the website at southvalleytransit.com and leave comments on the interactive map.
2. Call the study hotline at 385-355-3133.
3. Email the study team at southvalleytransit@rideuta.com.
Refinements to the Locally Preferred Alternative will be considered based on public input and additional technical analysis before being advanced to an environmental study and further engineering. Visit southvalleytransit.com to make sure your voice is heard.
Santaquin is one of seven cities partnering with Utah Transit Authority (UTA), Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), and Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG) to support transportation needs in our area. With rapid population and employment growth taking place in southern Utah County, the need for expanded transportation options is growing. As our population expands, our roadways are becoming more congested and travel times more unreliable. We recognize that with this growth comes a greater need for more transportation options. Robust options in public transportation will be a major part of this needed change.
UTA, UDOT and MAG have initiated a transit study to evaluate options for providing expanded transit service in the southern portion of Utah County. By 2050, Utah County is expected to nearly double in population, surpassing 1.3 million people total countywide and adding almost 400,000 new residents to southern Utah County. By planning ahead for this growth, our transportation options will meet current and future needs.
Local Transit and Growth
Local plans call for investment in transit to create economic development opportunities and allow planned growth to occur in areas served by transit. This new regional transit service will be efficient and high-quality, which will allow our community to connect to UTA’s larger system.
This type of robust system will provide connection throughout our region through different “modes,” or types, of transit. Different modes include bus, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), light rail train, commuter rail train, Paratransit (a specialized service for people who require individualized transit service), vanpool, and other innovative options that utilize technology and on-demand service. The purpose of the current study is to determine which types of modes and routes will best serve our region.
The study has narrowed the routes and modes to nine different options. The desired outcome of this study is to select a “Locally Preferred Alternative” (a preferred route and mode) that can be advanced to further study and eventually to construction.
Share Your Voice
Throughout 2021, there will be different ways for you to engage with UTA, UDOT and MAG to share your voice about public transportation options in our city and region. Your comments and participation will help us determine what options are most important for our area, how public transit will help you, and what our community needs.
To learn more about the study, including transit options in our area, and to provide a comment, visit www.southvalleytransit.com. For more information, please call 385-355-3133 or email the study team at southvalleytransit@rideuta.com.
