UTA makes service reductions following staffing shortages

SALT LAKE CITY — Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Utah Transit Authority and other bus operations across the nation have experienced significant staffing shortages. According to a press release from UTA, several emergency bus service adjustments will be made Dec. 11, on Change Day. 

These adjustments will take place in Weber, Davis and Salt Lake counties. Furthermore, service to Summit County will see effects. UTA riders can also expect impacts at several local, ski-service, and regional routes.

However, UTA anticipates the Utah County bus service, FrontRunner, TRAX paratransit, UTA On Demand, Bus Rapid Transit, and the S-Line Streetcar to continue as usual.

“UTA takes service reductions very seriously and recognizes the impact it will have for riders who rely on us. As we responded to this emergency situation, we worked to minimize the impacts as much as possible. And focused on maintaining service for essential riders, the equity of the impacts among all riders, and tried to maintain service and connections all day for the greatest number of people,” said Carlton Christensen, chair of the UTA Board of Trustees in a news release.

Also, UTA has analyzed ridership data, trends, routes, schedules and other factors to come up with strategies for dealing with operator shortages long-term. 

Less than 20% of UTA’s bus routes in the affected areas will be impacted during service adjustments. 

Areas affected by UTA service reductions

Salt Lake Service Area Local Routes

39: Adjusted from 15-min to 30-min service, 201: Adjusted from 30-min to 60-min service, 218: Adjusted from 30-min to 60-min service, 240: Adjusted from 15-min to 30-min service, and the actual route will be streamlined

Ski-Service Routes

953: Will be suspended, 972: Adjusted from 15-min to 30-min service, 994: Adjusted from 15-min to 30-min service

Regional Routes (Park City)

901: Will be suspended, 902: Shortened to 3900 S/Wasatch

Ogden Service Area Local Routes

603: Certain trips will be suspended, 612: Certain trips will be suspended, 625: Adjusted from 30-min to 60-min, 645: Adjusted from 30-min to 60-min, 650: Will be suspended

Ski-Service Routes

674: Restructured to run more mid-day and fewer peak trips, 675: Restructured to run more mid-day and fewer peak trips, 677: Restructured to run more mid-day and fewer peak trips

Regional Routes (Ogden-Salt Lake City)

455: Certain trips will be suspended, 470: Certain trips will be suspended, 640: Certain trips will be suspended

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