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The Economics of Transit: Innovative Transit Solutions

Greg Hughes, UTA Board ChairmanRTC Transit Connections 2013

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Converted to Transit

“… [it’s] assumed by both the political left and the right that conservatives oppose public transportation, regarding it as nothing more than a form of transportation welfare for those too poor, feeble or feckless to drive”

- Moving Minds: Conservatives and Public Transportation by Weyrich and Lind

UTA’s Vision• Identifying Stakeholders• 90% of population within one

mile of transit• Transit in every neighborhood• Pass in every pocket• Bus of the future• Bicycle/Pedestrian/

Disabled access improvements• Diversified family of transit

services

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Future of Utah’s Wasatch FrontUtah’s population is estimated to increase

by 65% by 2040.

One-third of growth will be contained on 3% of Wasatch Front land.

New housing and employment location alternatives will be in demand.

2015 ProgramUTA started with the first 16 miles of track in 1999 and now have close to 140 miles total.

TOD on UTA-Owned Property• Current TOD Projects– Jordan Valley TOD– Clearfield Station TOD– Sandy Civic Center TOD– Other Sites Under Consideration

• Provo Intermodal Center• Orem Intermodal Center

Why Is UTA Involved?

• UTA owns over 80+ acres of Transit-Supportive Property

• Joint Development Opportunities are Supported Federally

• Condensed Development Increases City Revenue• Condensed Development Increases Mass Transit

Ridership

Involvement in Adjacent Development

• Layton Station

• Other Services– Station Area Planning– TOD Expertise– Development Support– Input on Zoning and Tax Increment Financing

Greg HughesBoard Chair, Utah Transit Authority

greghughes@le.utah.gov

Thank you