Carlton Christensen, trustee and chair of the Utah Transit Authority board, presented UTA’s budget outlook for calendar 2026 at the Nov. 20 Transcom meeting and highlighted operating and capital priorities.

Christensen told members UTA remains heavily dependent on sales tax as its largest revenue source and expects modest increases in operating costs, largely driven by labor and additional headcount needed to operate new services. “Like many of you, we’re very heavily dependent on sales tax,” Christensen said.

He said the Mid Valley Connector (MVX) bus rapid transit project finished construction a year ahead of schedule and UTA plans to begin operating the service in March (with a likely revenue‑service announcement early next year). Christensen said UTA is hiring additional operators and support staff to run MVX when service begins.

On capital, Christensen reviewed a multi‑year plan emphasizing vehicle replacement and state‑of‑good‑repair work. He noted UTA ordered a total of 80 light‑rail vehicles from Stadler as part of a replacement program for a fleet that had about 40 vehicles approaching the end of useful life. Much of the vehicle procurement is financed with bond debt; Christensen said the agency anticipates returning to the bond market in roughly three years to finance the final portion of the purchase.

Members asked about rising debt‑service payments in 2026; Christensen explained the agency’s debt profile and recent refinancing efforts to smooth an expected spike tied to earlier 30‑year debt issuances and current financing structures. He said the refinancing work has reduced peak debt service compared with prior years but a spike remains in the coming years.

Christensen also described capital projects including design and construction of a new Mount Ogden administration and yard facility, S‑line extension work, continued vehicle rehab and replacement, and investments to bring many bus stops into ADA compliance. He said staff will return with final adjustments on Dec. 3 and the UTA board plans to adopt the budget on Dec. 17.

The presentation was informational; Transcom members thanked UTA for coordination on projects that affect regional travel patterns and infrastructure timelines.