Except for ski buses, UTA altering little on Dec. 18 'change day'

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Except for a big change in ski bus service, the Utah Transit Authority will alter schedules little in its upcoming change day on Dec. 18 — one of three times a year that it tweaks routes and their timing.

In fact, UTA will make no changes at all to its TRAX, FrontRunner and streetcar routes.

As previously announced, it is making significant changes to ski buses — most of which have already begun weekend service ahead of the official Dec. 18 change date.

UTA will increase the frequency of ski buses in Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood canyons by shortening their current routes in the valley — including eliminating direct ski bus service from downtown Salt Lake City, which had concerned hotels.

Skiers will need to take other existing rail or bus routes, or drive, to catch the ski buses near the canyons or at TRAX or FrontRunner stops in Murray, Midvale and Sandy.

The agency says such rearrangement of resources will increase the ski-bus trips in the canyons by 35 percent, and provide canyon service all day seven days a week — at 15-minute intervals at peak times, and every 30 minutes at other times.

UTA said the new schedules will help overcome problems with crowded ski buses, no midday bus service and inconsistent frequency.

It may also lead more skiers to park at TRAX and FrontRunner stations, which may help ease problems with limited parking at the canyon mouths.

UTA also will begin on Dec. 17 a new Route 677 ski bus to Snowbasin resort from the Layton FrontRunner Station with additional stops at local hotels and Park and Ride lots.

Another significant change in Salt Lake County is Route 500, which serves the State Capitol. It will no longer serve the Salt Lake Central Station for TRAX and FrontRunner, but will still serve the North Temple and Courthouse stations. The Route 209 bus on Ninth East between downtown Salt Lake City and Murray will also have significant schedule changes to improve connections to FrontRunner and TRAX. Bus routes in Salt Lake County that will have some minor schedule changes include: 2, 6, 9, 17, 21, 33, 35, 39, 41, 54, 200, 213, 220, 248, 320, 509, 919 and 920.

The Utah County TRAX connector, bus Route 811, will add some Sunday trips. Other minor schedule changes in Utah County are scheduled for routes 830, 850 and 863.

In Davis County, schedule changes are planned for routes 455, 460, 470, 473, 603, 626, 627, 645 and 667.