Utah On-Demand Transit Hits 1 Million Rides

An on-demand transit service provided by the Utah Transit Authority just surpassed one million rides, according to a press release from the agency.

UTA officials say UTA On Demand complements other UTA services and provides a key first-and last-mile connection to fixed-route transit lines. According to the agency, “UTA On Demand provides UTA with the ability to expand transit coverage in emerging areas, build a healthy foundation of riders and analyze their demand patterns, and eventually building ridership to inform fixed routes.”

On-demand transit, which grew during and after the pandemic as transit riders became less dependent on fixed routes catered to 9-to-5 commutes, can help transit systems expand access, particularly in suburban and rural areas like Utah’s Wasatch Front. However, some transit advocates warn that the concept is difficult to scale cost-effectively and could pull resources away from ‘traditional’ transit.