Tag Archives: transit

DREAM BIG

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A chalk drawing at Pioneer Park

Car pooling is the clear strategy for the winning UDOT team

Region of Dreams, UDOT’s best Clear the Air Challenge team, relied heavily on car pooling to win big at UDOT. Car pooling to work is a convenient and effective way to save money and fuel — but car pool on vacation? Region of Dreams team members car pooled on a rafting trip to Wyoming!

Other strategies played a part

Paul Egbert

Paul Egbert, who saved 2,640 miles during the challenge, car pools every day and even walks to catch the car pool. Brett Slater who organized the Dream effort saved a total of 1907 miles. Brett says the challenge motivated him to trip-chain by clumping errands together on the same day. David Alger saved the most miles — an impressive 2968. He and his wife take public transportation in his home town of Logan and they are looking forward to a bus trip to the state fair.

Just rewards

Saving money on gas is a big reward for car pooling. Region of Dreams team members will also get another gas-related reward: Director Jason Davis is cooking his famous elk chili for the winners on August 25!

Keep the challenge alive!

Brett Slater

There are lots of strategies that save money, fuel and keep the air cleaner. Don’t wait for next years challenge; visit the TravelWise website to find options that fit your life today.

Total saved by the Region of Dreams

There are other team members who contributed. Total savings included the following impressive sums.

Miles: 16,478
Emissions: 27,667
Energy: 749
Money: 9,261

David Alger

Take the bus

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Re-established transit route helps rural Utahns stay connected to the Wasatch Front

What happens when a resident of a rural Utah needs to see a doctor in Salt Lake City and a car ride is not an option?  Between 2004 and October 2009, residents of rural areas between Vernal and Salt Lake were out of luck when it came to daily travel options.  However, a re-established route makes reliable, regular travel convenient thanks to a federal-state partnership that subsidizes daily bus rides between Salt Lake City and Denver, Colorado.

Tracy Young, Rural Public Transit Manager with the Public Transit Team at UDOT is very happy about the service.  “It’s really going to help the people, especially low income, elderly and those with disabilities, get access to the Wasatch Front.”

Transit is important to rural Utahns who may not have access to the same level of medical services or, educational and employment opportunities along the Wasatch Front. The route is a regular Intercity Bus service that now receives funding through a Federal Transportation Administration grant managed by the Public Transit Team at UDOT .  Riders pay regular Greyhound rates.

Tracy Young, left, and Leone Gibson, right, pose with a bus driver on the new route.

The route was cancelled in 2004. Research showed the route needed to be revived to help improve the quality of life of rural residents. While visiting towns along the route, Tracy received a lot of positive comments. “People would stop us on the street and say how this service is needed. Every comment we got that day was positive.”  The Public Transit Team is planning on surveying riders to get feedback on the service.