Utah Transit Authority celebrates successful first year of Ogden Express

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release


Contact: Gavin Gustafson - Sr. Public Information Officer | 801-859-6095 | gavin.gustafson@rideuta.com


Utah Transit Authority celebrates successful first year of Ogden Express


Nearly 1 million riders have enjoyed fast and easy access from Weber State University to McKay-Dee Hospital on UTA’s bus rapid transit line


SALT LAKE CITY (Aug. 20, 2024) — The Utah Transit Authority today celebrates the one-year anniversary of the all-electric Ogden Express (OGX) bus rapid transit line. After 20 years of planning and more than two years of construction, OGX service began on Aug. 20, 2023, from FrontRunner Ogden Central to Weber State University campus and McKay-Dee Hospital.


“The OGX line has positively impacted the Ogden community by offering a quick and easy way for citizens, students and visitors to experience all that Ogden has to offer,” said Benjamin Nadolski, Ogden City mayor. “Whether you are going to work, attending class, or enjoying local events, UTA has Ogden covered.”


OGX combines the capacity and speed of light rail with the lower cost construction of a bus system. Through dedicated lanes and signal priority of the BRT system, OGX riders enjoy quick access to destinations and minimal intervals between buses of 10-15 minutes on weekdays and 15-30 minutes on weekends. Due to federal funding, OGX will continue to be Zero Fare through August 2026.


“Upon its launch OGX immediately became the most popular Ogden route and is in the top five of UTA routes in terms of ridership,” said Camille Glenn, UTA’s regional general manager of Mt. Ogden Service Unit. “We thank the Ogden community for exceeding all expectations and demonstrating the value of transit. The enthusiasm for OGX, along with UTA bus and FrontRunner services, will help cultivate a new generation of transit users.”


Since its launch, OGX has recorded more than 890,000 riders, with 250,000 using stops at Weber State University. Ridership peaked at more than 90,000 monthly riders in October


and February, aligning with Weber State University's back-to-school periods. Most UTA services, including buses, TRAX and FrontRunner, are available to Weber State University students for free through its partnership with UTA through the UTA School Pass Program.


“OGX has been such a game-changer for Weber State. We've seen thousands of students, faculty and staff using it every week, not only to get around campus, but also to get to some of Ogden’s most popular spots,” said Brad Mortensen, president of Weber State University. “It’s convenient, it connects us to the community, and it saves students time and money on parking — all wins for everyone.”


UTA operates other BRT lines in Provo/Orem (UVX) and has begun construction on the Midvalley Express (MVX) connecting Murray, Taylorsville and West Valley City. MVX is set to open in 2026.


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Celebrating One Year of OGX


Established in 1970, the Utah Transit Authority is a multimodal public transportation agency that serves six counties along the Wasatch Front and provides tens of millions of passenger rides each year. UTA’s fleet is ADA accessible and offers fixed-route bus, bus rapid transit, streetcar, light rail, commuter rail, express, ski, paratransit, vanpool, and innovative mobility services.