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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Taking a late night Metra train out of Union Station? Good luck finding a comfortable place to wait for your train.

AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Having to pay $60 to fill up the tank of your sedan is a lot more palatable when you only have to do it once every couple months and not every week. I just wish more people had the opportunity to not have to drive everywhere.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

A reminder that when IDOT widened IL-53 from 3 lanes to 5 in 2012, they completely omitted adding a sidewalk along the Itasca portion of the project.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Adding onto this, the flat ends of the cab cars is a main reason for the delays. All modern cab car cars have full width cabs, but Metra demanded that they be walkthrough, so it is easier to cut consists. This is despite they still run weekday length trains on weekends and just close off cars.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Here are the numbers from last August.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Metra's Lalapalooza ridership was actually down this year. BNSF had a hard crash in reverse peak, evening service and weekend service.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Metra's Lalapalooza ridership was actually down this year. BNSF had a hard crash in reverse peak, evening service and weekend service.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Just another weekend with construction delays on the UP-N of "up to 20 minutes" making it entirely useless.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

A major blow to UTA's Salt Lake Central Redevelopment Plan as the FRA appears to not have selected their grant application of up to $120 Million to go toward the project. railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/fy2...

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Delta also lobbied the Utah State Legislature to not allow any fees collected from airlines at Salt Lake Int'l Airport could not to go towards transit project but still allowed it to go to highways and parking lots for cars. youtu.be/bKvaSbz2RZ8?...

youtu.be

The Surprisingly Complicated Story of the Salt Lake City International Airport Light Rail Station

YouTube video by Christian Lenhart

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Amtrak railfans have been feasting in Salt Lake City with back-to-back days of trains passing through in the daytime. If only this could be the norm and not the exception.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Widening I-15 just between Salt Lake City and Farmington is expected to cost $3.7 Billion. The FrontRunner 2X project is not just laying more rails but also includes an entire fleet replacement. i15eis.udot.utah.gov

i15eis.udot.utah.gov

Home - UDOT I15 EIS

Overview As part of its mission to improve quality of life through transportation, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has conducted an environmental study along the I-15 corridor between Far...

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Chair Discussion items are quickly run through including a work session before the meeting and appointments of commissioners to the WFRC. With that the meeting adjourns.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Total cost of the project is $3.2 Billion with just over $2 Billion committed between the state and federal governments.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Utility work to start this fall with track construction to start next year and a contractor already selected to take on the work. Anticipated start of revenue service is 2030.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

DMU from Stadler are currently in negotiation and not completely confirmed on the bid. Would be allowed for conversion to other modes of supplying power like overhead wires.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The question of Sunday service is mentioned as "easier to attain" with FrontRunner 2X. There is no promise that it will happen due to State of Good Repair projects and cost to add service.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The Bluffdale station is briefly mentioned with how it will connect to the point but there is no mention about its lack of connection to current residences at Bluffdale. moved onto the 26 miles of added double tracking.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

FrontRunner2x is projected to see a ridership increase of 53% and be 17% faster than taking I-15 by 2050. Dir. Fox mentions also how much easier it will be to connect to bus and TRAX.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

It is mentioned that 15 minutes is that sweet spot where you don't need to check the time to catch a train. This is something that should be mentioned currently in regard to current Sunday service that is 30-minutes at best. Caldwell mentions knowing what its like to miss the every hour train.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Last discussion item is on the FrontRunner 2X project. It has taken 10 months to get approved in to Entrance of Engineering which is "unusually long". FTA has committed $1.28 Billion toward the project which is a lot but less than requested. System is currently at 90% peak capacity.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Continued clarification of what it takes to get a route started and to keep it going using the 5600 West bus as an example.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

When discussing the balance of adding revenue and accounting for added expenses, Dir. Fox mentions that there were many service enhancements planned that were paused due to fears of going in the red.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The 5th 5th budget gap is discusses with how the UTA has seen little of the fund outside of a few Utah County Projects. The funds are supposed to go towards operations of new capital projects put forth by the TTIF which has not been seen. Salt Lake County has moved theirs into the highway fund.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Now to finances, opening with the long-term outlook and that the UTA has enough saved up to operate until 2032 before hitting a fiscal cliff.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

This is followed by the FTA's reqires Title VI plan to make sure service follows the Civil Rights Act, including fare changes. This leads into the budget in regard to the stump budget to align the UTA's fiscal year with the state's.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The scope of the plan is presented from 5-Service changes to decade long capital plans. Included it public stakeholder outreach both within the UTA and with regional organizations like WFRC and MAG

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Next is a discussion about the UTA Moves 2055 Long Range Plan to replace the 2050 one. The process from Regional Transit Plan to Change is quickly sumarized.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Discussion continues about whether to require 4 votes to pass or a majority of an at least 4-member quorum as long as it is allowed by the legislature. It is closed with an anecdote to the Simpsons focus test scene.

static.klipy.com

The Simpsons Focus Testing

ALT: The Simpsons Focus Testing

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Caldwell mentions he didn't want to be the gatekeeper of the agenda and that they are all volunteers. Discussion of attendance policy and how leniency makes it difficult to create a quorum.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Gamvroulas jokes that he didn't even know this job existed 6 weeks ago when he was appointed. Has concerns about needing to lobby for agenda items and that it creates a "weak mayor" system. Agrees with 21 day headway. Additional concerns with the need to attend all meetings.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Also included is the process to remove the vice chair and a clarification of voting rights for a commissioner. Parliamentary procedures are turned down due to not wanting to bog down meetings. Discussion is open as to abstention votes. Voting on the bylaws will occur next meeting after review.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Next discussion is regarding changes to the commission's bylaws starting with allowing non-char commissioners to add agenda items with discretion, needing the support of two other commissioners, similar to what SCOTUS does.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Discussion continues about whether passes add to operation costs with Acerson clarifying that there is usually capacity that the passes induce the filling of it. IMHO If it is at capacity it probably means the passes are doing their jobs and there is already reason to add service.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Dir. Fox mentions the use of passenger counts which is quite ironic as ridership data has not been posted for 4 months now.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The different programs are discussed between the customer and the way that fares are distributed and collected whether that be a full use pass or pay per use.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Data from both Tap-On-Tap-Off and rider counters is used to give transparency to customers about how much they are required to pay for the fare agreements.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

There are over 280 contracts most are with institutions, employers, and services along with some Ticket-As-Fare agreements.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Caldwell asks if the public fare rate is determined by the legislature and is told that it is determined by the UTA

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Different Programs are made to account for different customers whether that be a small business or major University. These are discussed with the customer than approved by the commission.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The fare agreement is passed unanimously. This is followed by a discussion on said fare programs.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The fare increase is briefly mentioned and that there hasn't been a fare increase in quite some time and that fuel continues to increase. A reminded gas was under $3 when the fare increase was first pitched in Jan 2026.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Holbrook asks about the ridership with is believed to be 700k a year. Caldwell asks how the cost is updated which is done by looking at fare and cost of usage.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Now to fare agreements, there is on with the Salt Lake School District and the city to provide 50,000 Bus and TRAX transit passes to allow one guardian pass per student. This is the program that received some of the funding that went to the HIVE Pass

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Director Fox also reminds Commissioners to attend the grand opening of the Utah County On Demand service on Aug 27th at Lehi Station

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The Committee on Accessible Transportation (CAT) and the Pension Committee are also mentioned. Caldwell mentions how there needs to be refinements to committee appointments. Acerson is happy to continue serving on the Pension Committee along with the CAT. One of the Commissioners asks what CAT is.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Holbrook mentions how the Utes fight song still plays on the way up to the stadium with Caldwell pushing Xochimitl to get more services like this in Utah County

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

This is followed by the State of Good Repair Program focusing more on the difficulties on the employees. Customers are not listed at all and a reminder that bus bridges are not handled internally by a third party.

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AnalytiKroll @analytikroll.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Further detail about what it takes to add service for major events like the recent Zac Bryan concert at the Rice Eccles Stadium both with the train service itself and staff communicating with the riders.

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