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SALT LAKE CITY — "Free Fare February" appears to have already had a positive effect on public transit ridership.
The average weekday ridership from the first half of this month is 101,427 — up almost 20% compared to "over comparable periods of time" in January, according to new ridership information released by the Utah Transit Authority on Wednesday. Ridership on Saturdays is up 34%, while Sunday ridership is up 27%.
While data from previous years shows ridership typically increases between January and February, the jump so far is much larger than the previous five years. The average ridership increase between the two months for the years 2017-2021 is about 4.5%.
The total number of riders in the first two weeks of February is also much lower than pre-pandemic ridership levels. For instance, UTA averaged over 160,000 weekday boardings in February 2020.
Still, if it maintains 101,427 average weekday riders, February 2022 would be the busiest month UTA has had since the pandemic began. The current leader is 101,143 riders last September. The final four months of the year are typically the four busiest transit months of the year, even after the pandemic.
The FrontRunner commuter rail service from Ogden to Provo has received the largest overall rise among services so far this month. Its weekday ridership is up 33%, and a whopping 163% during the first two Saturdays of February.
But all other modes of public transportation have seen increases. UTA's microtransit programs in Salt Lake City and southern Salt Lake County have also increased 33% during the weekdays and 43% on the first two Saturdays.
Meanwhile, fixed-route bus services are up 22% on weekdays, 29% on Saturdays and 31% on Sundays. TRAX ridership is up 16% on weekdays, as well as 18% on Saturdays and 23% on Sundays. UVX in Utah County has experienced the slightest increase among the different services. It's up 4% on weekdays and 6% on Saturdays.
Free Fare February, which was announced last month, offers all public transit services free of cost. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, whom UTA credited for coming up with the idea, notes in her goals for 2022 that the idea is to "help gather data" toward having free transit.
UTA officials said they hope the month will highlight what public transportation has to offer now and in the future as the Wasatch Front continues to grow in population.
"Transit is on the move along the Wasatch Front and throughout the state of Utah," said Carlton Christensen, chairman of the UTA Board of Trustees, during last month's announcement. "It's poised to have a great impact on our access to opportunities, economic development, to jobs, entertainment activities, our air and quality of life."
