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Commission approves master transit agreement with UTA to launch northern Innovative Mobility Zone
Summary
The commission approved a master transit agreement with the Utah Transit Authority to create a northern Innovative Mobility Zone covering Eagle Mountain, Lehi, Saratoga Springs and American Fork; UTA projected a fleet of about 16 vehicles, roughly 400 rides per day and an August 2026 startup, funded as a county–state–UTA partnership using the local fifth tax option.
The Utah County Commission voted to approve a master transit agreement with the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) to establish a northern Innovative Mobility Zone covering Eagle Mountain, Lehi, Saratoga Springs and American Fork.
UTA representatives said the zone will use on‑demand microtransit — a shared‑ride service booked through a phone app — to provide coverage‑based service and connect riders to FrontRunner commuter rail. “It's a flexible service... it's through a phone app,” Hal Johnson, UTA director of innovative mobility, told the commission, describing app‑based ride booking, mode‑choice guidance and shared rides rather than single‑occupant trips.
UTA projected the initial deployment would need about 16 vehicles, serve roughly 180,000 residents in the zone and target about 400 rides per day, with a planned opening in August 2026 pending execution of the agreement and operational arrangements. The authority said service hours would be Monday–Saturday, approximately 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., with wheelchair‑accessible vehicles included in the fleet.
County staff and UTA said funding will be a partnership among the county, UTA, the Utah Department of Transportation and private operators; county commissioners emphasized the use of the locally designated 'fifth' tax option to fund local service. Jim Golden of the Utah Department of Transportation said the recent transit study recommended a phased approach and that UDOT would reimburse trips that begin or end in the UDOT‑funded portion of the zone.
Commissioners framed the project as an affordable study and a data‑collection tool to learn travel patterns and evolve service over time; they noted the option to resize or reconfigure the zone if certain areas underperform. A motion to approve the master transit agreement was made, seconded and carried.
The county expects partner and marketing work to begin as UTA prepares for launch, including targeted outreach to encourage app downloads and rider adoption.
