TDM Excellence Awards - Utah Transit Authority
Congratulations to Utah Transit Authority, the 2025 TDM Excellence Award winner for the Transportation Provider category.
In one of the fastest-growing states in the country, the Utah Transit Authority stands out as a model of multimodal excellence. Serving 79% of Utah’s population across six counties and a 1,400-square-mile service area, UTA delivers safe, reliable, and convenient public transportation through an integrated network of bus, light rail, commuter rail, paratransit, vanpool, and microtransit services.
In 2024 alone, UTA provided over 40 million miles of service, marking a 15% increase in ridership from the previous year. But the impact goes far beyond numbers. Just one FrontRunner commuter train can remove 264 vehicles from Utah’s highways, and daily boardings eliminate the equivalent of an entire lane of traffic on I-15, Utah’s busiest corridor. These reductions ease congestion, improve air quality, and extend the lifespan of critical infrastructure.
UTA’s approach to TDM is rooted in partnership. They work closely with cities, planners, and developers to promote Transit-Oriented Communities, helping shape zoning, accessibility, and mobility strategies that reduce car dependency and support sustainable growth. Their collaborative model not only improves transportation, it drives economic development and enhances quality of life. By ensuring that public transit is seamlessly woven into the fabric of urban planning, UTA makes sustainable travel a more convenient and attractive choice for residents from the start.
What makes UTA truly exceptional is its commitment to innovation and continuous improvement. Through an internal certification program, employees across the agency engage in training, site tours, and improvement projects that foster a culture of excellence. From repairing assets instead of replacing them, to using 3D printing for parts fabrication, UTA is constantly finding smarter, more sustainable ways to operate, which helps them focus on the core goal of moving people.
Their dedication to workforce development is equally impressive. Since launching its apprenticeship program in 1998, UTA has graduated over 255 apprentices, with 62 currently active. These 3-to-5-year programs train participants in transit maintenance, facilities, and more, ensuring a skilled workforce ready to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.
UTA also understands the importance of engaging the next generation. Through its My BeUTAHful Community Youth Art Competition, UTA invites young artists to explore how transit connects their neighborhoods. Winning pieces are proudly displayed across the transit system, turning vehicles and stations into moving galleries that celebrate community and creativity. This initiative fosters early awareness, appreciation, and pride in public transit, helping encourage young people to become lifelong users and advocates for public transit.
From measurable environmental and economic benefits to replicable planning models and a thriving internal culture, UTA exemplifies what it means to be a forward-thinking transportation provider.
The Utah Transit Authority is an exceptional example of how public transit agencies can be a catalyst for change within their communities. Congratulations, Utah Transit Authority, on this well-deserved recognition!