Notice anything new at your bus stop? UTA has been working hard to make bus stops ADA-compliant and more rider-friendly. Over the last two years, we’ve added cement pads to more than 100 stops across our service area. Many of these stops also received shelters and wheelchair ramps.

A newly installed wheelchair ramp at an Orem bus stop

The upgrades will improve the commutes of thousands of riders, said UTA engineering and construction planner Jacob Splan. He estimates that approximately 7,000 people use the enhanced stops each day.

The bus stop improvements are designed to make the stops more user friendly, especially for riders who use wheelchairs. The newly installed cement pads allow buses to deploy their ramps and make it easier for riders in wheelchairs to get from the sidewalk to the curb.

Splan said planners used rider feedback when determining which stops to enhance. They also targeted stops near pharmacies, hospitals and community centers. UTA collaborated with cities and other organizations, including Ogden, Centerville, Orem, Tooele and Hill Air Force Base to fund the upgrades and complete work at the stops.

The project is part of an ongoing process to improve UTA’s bus system. Splan said that the planning department hopes to upgrade 50 to 100 more stops in 2015. If you would like to see improvements to a stop near you, please leave a message in the comments with the bus stop number or visit http://www.rideuta.com/content/customer-service.aspx .