UTAH TRANSIT AuTHORITY YEAR IN REVIEW 2013 UTAH TRANSIT DEAR UTA STAKEHOLDERS, AUTHORITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES What a year it’s been! schedule 89 percent of the time and light Gregory H. Hughes, Chair rail keeping schedule 94 percent of the time. Representing the cities within Salt Lake County and the cities The year of 2013 was one of the most FrontRunner’s on-time reliability increased of Tooele and Grantsville successful time periods in UTA’s history. from 68 percent at the end of 2012 to 90 H. David Burton, Vice Chair Keeping its promise made to voters in 2006, percent in 2013. Representing the Governor the agency concluded its FrontLines 2015 of the State of Utah program with the opening of the Airport and While this is an opportunity to highlight the Justin Y. Allen Draper TRAX lines. FrontLines 2015, which year’s accomplishments, it’s also a time to look Representing the President consisted of the Mid-Jordan, West Valley, ahead. Last year provided the groundwork for of the Senate Airport and Draper TRAX lines and the Provo our move into the future. Among the things Keith Bartholomew to Salt Lake FrontRunner extension, was on the horizon are improved fare payment Representing Salt Lake City delivered two years ahead of schedule and systems, Provo-Orem bus rapid transit (BRT), Christopher R. Bleak $300 million under budget. Capping off the and possible transportation improvements in Representing the cities within year, UTA opened Utah’s first modern streetcar northern Utah County, Davis County and the Utah County line between South Salt Lake and Salt Lake Wasatch Mountains. Necia Christensen City’s Sugar House neighborhood. These new Representing the cities within projects bring the Wasatch Front’s rail transit We recognize that each finish line is but the Salt Lake County and the cities of Tooele and Grantsville system to 140 miles. The entire rail network, beginning of a new race, and UTA’s dedicated which debuted with the completion of the board of trustees and staff are more engaged Larry A. Ellertson Sandy/Salt Lake TRAX line in 1999, has come Representing the cities within than ever to enhance the quality of life along Utah County in $350 million under budget. the Wasatch Front by connecting people to their schools, jobs and communities, all while Jeff Hawker Representing the cities within With the completion of FrontLines 2015, having a positive impact on air quality and Salt Lake County and the cities UTA increased the amount of transit service traffic congestion. We look forward to you of Tooele and Grantsville it offers to the community. Overall, the joining us as we proceed with these and other Charles G. Henderson agency came in nearly $7 million under efforts to continue to live our agency vision, Representing unincorporated budget and produced $2.2 million in which is to provide an integrated system of Salt Lake County efficiency savings. UTA used its savings to innovative, accessible and efficient public Robert A. Hunter increase its service hours by 2.6 percent. transportation services that increase access to Representing the cities within The agency also improved its on-time opportunities and a healthy environment for Weber County and the cities of Brigham City, Perry and Willard vehicle reliability, with buses running on all the people of the Wasatch region. Dannie McConkie Representing the Utah Transportation Commission Robert McKinley Representing the cities within Salt Lake County and the cities of Tooele and Grantsville P. Bret Millburn Gregory H. Hughes Michael A. Allegra Representing the cities within Davis County Chair, Board of Trustees General Manager Utah Transit Authority Utah Transit Authority Michael E. Romero Gregory H. Hughes Michael A. Allegra Representing the cities within Chair, Board of Trustees General Manager Salt Lake County and the cities of Tooele and Grantsville Chris Sloan UTA is a government special service district overseen by a board of trustees. Special service districts are usually smaller Representing the cities of Brigham than a state agency but serve an area larger than traditional city or county borders. UTA serves the residents of Salt Lake, City, Perry, Willard, Grantsville Weber, Davis and Utah counties and select cities within Box Elder and Tooele counties. UTA’s funding comes primarily and Tooele (non-voting) from the municipalities within its service area. Troy K. Walker The UTA Board of Trustees provides broad direction, governs the Authority, and sets policies and goals on issues such as Representing the Speaker ridership, services and financial responsibilities. Members of the board are generally appointed by the city and county of the House governments within UTA’s service area that support the agency with a local-option sales tax. Some board members are also appointed by the state. Board members serve four-year terms with no term limits. ACCOUNTABILITY UTA is committed to the taxpayers and the citizens it serves. The agency works to foster a culture of transparency and prides itself in going above and beyond the legal requirements regarding public access, especially in the areas of service planning, fares and project development. The agency also conducts its board committees and full board business in open meetings and has extremely stringent ethics policies for its board members and employees. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT UTA GETS A CLOSER LOOK its performance, administration and safety As part of its commitment to transparency, In any given year, UTA undergoes processes. As part of its financial oversight UTA goes above and beyond to encourage numerous evaluations including an program, UTA conducts internal financial public participation and feedback while annual salary audit, U.S. Department of audits and reports each year. The agency it plans for future growth. UTA follows Homeland Security audits, procurement also prepares a Comprehensive Annual rigorous guidelines with its outreach, audits, various operational and safety Financial Report and monthly financial including public hearing policies and compliance audits, and more. In 2013, reports that are reviewed by the board procedures with mandatory comment UTA participated in 38 separate audits on of trustees. periods. Beyond the legally required hearings, UTA has implemented an enhanced public involvement program for service changes. The program is SUSTAINABILITY designed to increase public access and Sustainability is one of UTA’s core values embraced and practiced throughout participation and to promote more the organization. This is demonstrated through maintaining its Environmental meaningful dialogue and input. It Management System ISO 14001 certification since 2005 and its ongoing efforts includes an initial public scoping-type process to gather the public’s priorities to manage the agency’s growth while preparing to meet the needs of the and preferences for the transit system burgeoning Wasatch Front. Additionally, UTA helps area residents care for the prior to holding the required public open environment as 35.3 million auto trips were eliminated in the last year. houses to solicit comment on service proposals. To further enhance this program, Open UTA, an online “open city G REENING THE FLEET LAST MILE SOLUTIONS hall” type of website was developed. It In 2013, UTA put 24 compressed natural UTA partnered with various organizations allows UTA to ask questions and solicit gas (CNG) buses into service. These to offer passengers last-mile transportation feedback on potential changes to the vehicles have lower emissions due to cleaner options for getting to their final destinations. system in an easy-to-use way. UTA also burning fuel and are more cost effective to One of these companies is Enterprise adopted new Title VI requirements that operate than traditional diesel-fuel buses. CarShare (enterprisecarshare.com). The require hearings before new service is In addition, UTA features 32 hybrid-electric company has several vehicles available implemented. In addition, UTA creatively buses and 224 clean diesel buses in its fleet. for hourly rent at many of UTA’s park and uses new technologies and tactics—such Improvements in the bus fleet have led to a ride lots. Interested passengers can contact as Twitter chats, online comment forms 65 percent decrease in NOx (nitrogen oxide) and other social media tools—to share emissions and a 66 percent reduction in PM and receive information from the public. (particulate matter) emissions since 2007. With the help of UTA’s riders, the agency also saved 214,467 tons of greenhouse gas 38 PERFORMANCE, ADMINISTRATION, emissions and more than 300,000 gallons of & SAFETY AUDITS fuel in 2013. PERFORMANCE UTA prides itself on its commitment to high standards of management and operational practices. Recognized throughout the public transportation industry for delivering projects ahead of schedule and under budget, UTA accomplishes this with an overhead rate of approximately half the national average. The agency is often cited among the nation’s best transit authorities. UTA credits its success to innovative project management and delivery, rigorous management and ethical standards that promote agency transparency, superior performance and wise use of taxpayer money. RIDERSHIP ON THE RISE at a lean and efficient cost. The board of 24 CNG BUSES Although 70 percent of UTA riders have trustees, staff and agency stakeholders all 32 HYBRID ELECTRIC BUSES participate in the budget process, creating 224 CLEAN DIESEL BUSES access to a car, people continue to choose 66% REDUCTION IN PM transit as a viable transportation option. an annual budget that reflects service levels, Ridership has continued to increase year anticipated revenues and costs. over year with 2013 reaching an all-time Enterprise to reserve these vehicles to use for high of 44.1 million boardings. TRAX transportation to their final destinations. ridership increased by 9 percent, which 44 MILLION BOARDINGS included the opening of the Airport and $6.7 MILLION UNDER BUDGET UTA also teamed up with GREENBike, 70 MILES OF RAIL BUILT IN 5 YEARS Draper TRAX lines and S-Line Streetcar.