Notice anything new? We’ve completed more than 200 shelters at bus stops along the Wasatch Front. These shelters are being added to stops where possible to help protect riders from rain, snow and sun as they wait for the bus.
Planners wanted to finish as many bus shelters as possible to help keep riders warm this winter, said UTA engineering and construction planner Jake Splan. Fortunately, mild fall weather enabled construction crews to finish the 200th shelter in early November. Since then, several dozen more shelters have been added to UTA stops. We’ve also added hundreds of benches, garbage cans and bike racks to stops throughout our service area.
Before and after a bus shelter was installed near the intersection of Redwood Road and Indiana Avenue.
UTA focuses on adding shelters at stops with high ridership or locations that need improved accessibility. Shelters have been added to every bus stop located at a FrontRunner station. We’re also adding shelters at stops along major travel corridors like 200 South, State Street and Redwood Road in Salt Lake, Washington Boulevard in Ogden and Highway 89 in Davis County.
Splan said that planners try to respond to customer requests for shelters or other bus stop improvements.
“Everyone is welcome to make a bus stop improvement suggestion on our website, or call 801-RIDE-UTA and we will let you know if we can make accommodations,” he said. “Improvements can include a new concrete pad, a bench, bike rack or shelter. We have even built new sidewalks to increase safety and comfort for our customers.
Before and after a bus shelter was installed in front of the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City.
The 200 new bus shelters were added to stops in Weber, Davis and Salt Lake counties. Prop 1 funds were used for many of the new shelters in Weber and Davis counties.
In 2017, riders will see more shelters along State Street, Washington Boulevard, areas in Roy and Sunset, and other locations in Weber, Davis and Salt Lake counties. Shelters will also be added in Tooele and Grantsville as well as to stops in Utah County. Splan said that UTA plans to complete work on 50 to 100 new shelters at stops in the coming year.