Utah Valley Express
Utah Valley Express, also known as UVX, is a line in central Utah County, Utah, United States. The line is operated by the Utah Transit Authority and runs between southwest Orem to south central Provo by way of Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University. It began service with a soft opening on August 13, 2018 while the station platforms were being finished and was formally opened on January 9, 2019 with several dignitaries in attendance including BYU President Kevin J. Worthen, Provo mayor Michelle Kaifusi, UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez, Orem mayor Richard Brunst, and mascots Cosmo the Cougar and Willy the Wolverine. It is the second of several BRT lines that UTA has or is planning in Utah County and the Salt Lake Valley. MAX is described by UTA as "light rail on rubber tires". Through 2021 there is no fee to ride on the UVX thanks to a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Description
The Utah Valley Express line connects the Orem FrontRunner station with UVU, the University Mall, BYU, downtown Provo, the Provo FrontRunner station, the Provo Towne Centre mall, the East Bay Business Park and follows a route primarily along University Parkway and University Avenue. The line includes 17 stops and runs at 10-15 minute intervals, with 6 minute headways during peak hours.UTA had anticipated having the Utah Valley Express operational by the time the Provo and Orem FrontRunner stations opened in the fall of 2012, but by early July 2016 construction on the line had yet to commence. The Federal Transit Administration reported that construction would begin in mid 2016 and that service would begin in 2019. The initial cost of the Utah Valley Express was estimated to be nearly $160 million.
The Utah Valley Express connects with the FrontRunner at both the Provo and Orem intermodal centers. The FrontRunner is a commuter rail service run by UTA that operates along the Wasatch Front with service from Provo, through Salt Lake County, Davis County, Weber County, and Ogden. The FrontRunner also connects with UTA's TRAX light rail system in the Salt Lake Valley as well as Amtrak's California Zephyr and Greyhound inter-city buses.
All of UTA's TRAX and FrontRunner trains and stations, streetcars and streetcar stops, all fixed route buses are compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act and are therefore accessible to those with disabilities. However, ADA boarding on MAX's unique buses is at the center door, rather than the front. In accordance with the Utah Clean Air Act and UTA ordinance, "smoking is prohibited on UTA vehicles as well as UTA bus stops , TRAX stations, FrontRunner stations".
History
As the initial route was nearing finalization in early 2013, Brigham Young University announced that it was closing a portion of East Campus Drive. Even though none of the Utah Valley Express route ran along this road, the closure of this five lane road would affect traffic on nearby streets, primarily 900 East. Since the traffic projections were based upon the use of East Campus Drive, it became prudent to re-assess the portion of the route in the area of 900 East to ensure that the previously preferred route was still the best option. As part of this discussion many alternatives arose, but the original route kept, with a few modifications. One of the major considerations for keeping the original route was the strong possibility of losing federal funding, as well as substantial financial support from the Mountainland Association of Governments.Other changes that were made later in the process included the stop that was initially planned to be located at about 1100 North 900 East. It was first moved slightly north to just north of Birch Lane/Heritage Drive in front of the BYU Creamery. However, this stop was later eliminated altogether in favor of two new stops, one on the southeast edge of BYU campus and one on the northeast edge of campus. Additional improvement recommendations were also added along 900 East, including sidewalks.
In March 2015 the Federal Transit Administration approved the Environmental Assessment submitted by UTA in late 2014 with a "Finding of No Significant Impact."
In April 2016, Provo City and Orem City voted to approve a 50-year lease agreement allowing UTA to construct dedicated lanes and other improvements on local roads owned by Provo and Orem. However, this decision received significant opposition from some residents.
In November 2019, the electronic monitors at the platforms were updated in order to show passengers a map with real-time updates of where buses are on the route.
Name
While the line was being designed and under construction, it was known as the Provo-Orem Bus Rapid Transit or the Provo-Orem MAX. The project was sometimes referred to as the Provo-Orem Transportation Improvement Project, although the BRT line was only a part of the overall Provo-Orem TRIP project to improve transportation in the area.In the fall of 2017 UTA asked the public for name suggestions for the new line, the Provo-Orem TRIP Executive Committee then selected their top choices from the suggestions. Following a trademark review of the committee's choices, the public was presented, for a vote, with three names: TimpRunner, TimpExpress, or Utah Valley Express. Following the vote, in which 524 persons out of approximately 950 votes selected Utah Valley Express, the UTA Board of Trustees approved the Utah Valley Express name during their March 28, 2018 meeting.
Future
As the need increases and funding becomes available, Phase II improvements will be implemented. In Phase II, the northwest end of the Utah Valley Express will be rerouted directly east from the Orem station along West 800 South and connect with the UVU campus by way of a new high-occupancy/toll interchange overpass. It will then pass by the north and east edges of the UVU campus before reaching University Parkway and continuing along the remainder of its original route. As part of the reroute, the single BRT stop on the south side of the UVU campus will be replaced by three new stops along the north and east sides of campus. The cost of Phase II is anticipated to be about $18 million.In addition to the Phase II improvements to the line, UTA also plans to eventually augment the Utah Valley Express with additional lines within about 7–16 years. One of the lines will run north from the Provo station following along 500 West in Provo; State Street through Provo, Orem, Lindon, Pleasant Grove; and Main Street through American Fork until it reaches the American Fork FrontRunner station. Another MAX line will run south from the Provo station though East Bay Business Park, then east along 1860 South to State Street, then south through Springville on Main Street, then southwest along South State Road to Spanish Fork, finally through Spanish Fork until it reaches the planned FrontRunner station in Spanish Fork.
Route
The Utah Valley Express is designated as UTA Route 830X.South Orem
The Utah Valley Express begins at the Orem Intermodal Center, which is located at 900 South 1350 West. After heading west to and then briefly south on Geneva Road, it heads east on University Parkway to cross over I‑15 and then turn north on Sandhill Road. At the end of this very short stretch of Sandhill Road it turns east and then heads east on College Drive until it reaches the UVU stop on College Drive and/or West 1200 South. From that stop it continues east on West 1200 South until it reaches another roundabout at 400 West. Immediately after turning south on South 400 West and then east again on University Parkway it reaches the Lakeview stop.From the 400 West stop the Utah Valley Express continues east in dedicated inside lanes and ascends the Provo Bench and crosses South 200 West and South Main Street. Immediately after crossing South Main Street it arrives at the Main Street stop. After that stop it continues east in its dedicated inside lanes, crossing South 200 East and State Street before passing by the south side of University Place and reaching the last stop in Orem at about 700 East. The platforms for this stop are also located in the median of East University Parkway. Shortly after that stop, it crosses South 800 East and then heads southeast on East University Parkway to descend the Provo Bench as it leaves Orem and enters Provo.
North Provo
Continuing southeast on North University Parkway in its dedicated inside lanes the Utah Valley Express reaches the 2230 North stop just after crossing 2230 North/550 West in Provo. The platform for this stop is again located in the median of North University Parkway. From that stop it continues southeast on North University Parkway in its dedicated lanes until it passes over the Provo River and then crosses North 200 West and North University Avenue.Immediately after crossing North University Avenue, the Utah Valley Express continues east on East University Parkway in shared lanes and crosses North Canyon Road before passing by the northern edge of the BYU campus and the southern side of the LaVell Edwards Stadium. Just east of the stadium it arrives at the BYU Stadium stop at about 350 East. The platforms for this stop are located on the sides of East University Parkway, directly north of the Larry H. Miller baseball and softball fields and immediately east of the signalized intersection with the events parking lot access. Since there are no dedicated lanes along this portion of the route, bus turnouts are included for this stop. From this stop it continues east on East University Parkway. At about 850 East it reaches the next stop. This stop has two platforms on both sides of East University Parkway. A new crosswalk with a traffic light was constructed that continues straight north across East University Parkway from the existing sidewalk that runs along the east side of the Harmon Building. The stops are just west of the crosswalk and the current parking lot access. Since there are still no dedicated lanes along this portion of the route, bus turnouts were also included for the BYU North Campus stop.
After that stop the Utah Valley Express continues in shared traffic lanes to turn south onto North 900 East and pass by the eastern edge of BYU campus. Shortly after crossing Birch Lane/Heritage Drive, it turns west onto East 900 North and quickly reaches the stop on the southeast corner of BYU campus. This will stop is the primary stop for BYU campus and has two platforms, rather than a single platform in the median and are located west of East Campus Drive. From that stop it turns south on North 700 East. There are dedicated outside lanes on East 900 North between East Campus Drive and North 900 East, except for the easternmost portion for the northbound buses which cross from the outside lane to make a left-hand turn onto North 900 East. Also, regular traffic between East Campus Drive and North 900 East is reduced from two lanes to one lane in each direction.
After briefly continuing south on North 700 East in shared lanes the Utah Valley Express turns west again onto East 700 North. Continuing on, in dedicated lanes once again, it heads east until it crosses North 600 East and North 500 East, passes by far southern edge of BYU campus, reaches the Joaquin stop. From that stop it continues west again, still in its dedicated inside lanes, and crosses North 400 East, North 300 East, North 200 East, North 100 East, before finally arriving at North University Avenue.
Upon reaching North University Avenue again, the Utah Valley Express turns south on that road and continues on, still in its dedicated inside lanes, to cross 600 North and arrive at the Academy Square stop. From that stop it continues south in its dedicated inside lanes and crosses 500 North, 400 North, 300 North and then arrives at the 300 North stop. After that stop it enters the main downtown Provo business district and continues south in its dedicated inside lanes and crosses 200 North, 100 North, Center Street.
South Provo
After crossing Center Street the Utah Valley Express immediately arrives at the Center Street stop. From that stop it continues south, still in its dedicated inside lanes, crossing 200 South and 300 South before reaching the 400 South stop. After crossing 400 South it continues in shared lanes as it crosses over the 600 South and the Union Pacific and FrontRunner tracks on the South University Avenue Viaduct. Immediately after the viaduct it crosses 780 South and then reaches 920 South and turn west. After briefly heading west on West 920 South, it turns north onto South 100 East. After crossing West 700 South it reaches Provo Central Station.After its stop at the Provo Intermodal Center, the Utah Valley Express heads briefly west on West 700 South until it once again reaches Freedom Boulevard. After turning south on South 200 West it continues in shared lanes as it passes through the West 920 South roundabout, crosses West 1020 South and reaches Towne Centre Boulevard. At Towne Centre Boulevard it turns east and continues very briefly until the road turns south. Continuing south, still in shared lanes, it reaches the Towne Centre Blvd stop as it passes by the east side of the mall closest to the JC Penney. It then continues south on Town Centre Boulevard until it reaches Towne Centre Drive and turns east on that road. Continuing east in shared lanes Towne Centre Drive becomes East Bay Boulevard after it crosses South University Avenue.
Continuing east in a shared lane on East East Bay Boulevard it crosses South 40 East before reaching the East Bay North stop. It then crosses South 180 East before turning south as East Bay Boulevard curves and becomes East Bay Boulevard. Upon reaching East 1860 South it turns west and, while still in a shared lane, it arrives at the East Bay South stop. From that stop it continues west until it once again reaches South University Avenue. After turning north on South University Avenue, it continues north until it turns west on Towne Centre Drive.
The Utah Valley Express stops only once at both the East Bay North and South stops as it loops clockwise through the East Bay Businsess Park. After turning west onto Towne Centre Drive, it follows its route back to the Orem Intermodal Center as it stops at all the other stops/stations alone its route. Occasionally, buses will head north through the Freedom Boulevard roundabout and turn into Provo Central Station at 750 South.