The Utah Transit Authority will use a nearly $63 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support a bus rapid transit route in Salt Lake County, officials said on Thursday.
The BRT route, called the Midvalley Express, will improve accessibility, frequency and connection, and encourage economic development, officials said. The 7-mile, 15-station all-electric line will connect to UTA commuter and light rail, and will include 1.4 miles of bus-only lanes and priority at traffic signals. The route will run through several high and mid-density housing areas and connect to jobs, retail, and healthcare destinations, as well as stop at Salt Lake Community College.
“There is a reason why bus rapid transit is one of the fastest-growing ways to travel in the nation, and the Biden-Harris administration’s investment supports the latest line in UTA’s growing transit network and will provide better, faster rides for Salt Lake County,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “With the grant we’re announcing today for the Midvalley Express, more people in the Salt Lake region will have access to a dependable, affordable, and safe transportation option to get to work or school, visit a doctor, go shopping, and see loved ones.”
Part of the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants, the route will provide transportation for students to home and work, as well as prepare the region for the 2034 Olympic Games, officials said.
“More than three-quarters of SLCC students work while pursuing a degree, making a fast, convenient and reliable transit connection all the more important,” FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool said. “As the Salt Lake region continues to grow, the Midvalley Express will provide a new form of reliable and convenient transit. We are pleased to include Salt Lake County to the growing list of communities benefiting from America’s largest-ever investment in high-quality public transportation.”