Utah Transit Authority has received a $62.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to support a new bus rapid transit (BRT) route in Salt Lake County. The planned Midvalley Express will improve accessibility, frequency and connections, as well as encourage economic development near a regional mall, medical center, a community college and other key activity centers, UTA said.
The seven-mile, 15-station, all-electric BRT line will connect to UTA commuter rail and light rail at either end of the line across Murray, Taylorsville and West Valley City. The service will include 1.4 miles of bus-only lanes and priority at traffic signals. It will run through several high- and mid-density housing areas and connect to jobs, retail and health care destinations. It will also stop at Salt Lake Community College.
The BRT line also will prepare the Salt Lake City region for the 2034 Olympic Games by providing a connection between FrontRunner commuter rail and the Maverik Center, a planned venue for the Games, UTA said.
Federal support for the estimated $104.1 million project comes from FTA’s Capital Investment Grants program, which helps communities carry out transformational transit projects.