Utah Valley Express, also known as UVX, is a bus rapid transit (BRT) line in central Utah County, Utah, United States. The line is operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) and runs between southwest Orem to south central Provo by way of Utah Valley University (UVU) and Brigham Young University (BYU). 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. It is the second of several BRT lines that UTA has or is planning in Utah County and the Salt Lake Valley.
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 (SR-265) and University Avenue (US-189). The line includes 17 stops (stations) and runs at 10-15 minute intervals, with 6 minute headways during peak hours and no service on Sundays. Since August 2020, service south of Provo FrontRunner station has run as a separate service.
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 (stations). The FrontRunner is a commuter rail service run by UTA that operates along the Wasatch Front with service from Provo, through Salt Lake County (including Salt Lake City), 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 (the National Railroad Passenger Corporation) California Zephyr (which runs daily between Chicago, Illinois, and the San Francisco Bay Area) and Greyhound inter-city buses.
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 (then current) Utah Valley Express route ran along this road (although it had been previously anticipated), 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 (on 900 North) and one on the northeast edge of campus (on University Parkway), at the south entrance to the Missionary Training Center. 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 (mainly on 700 North in Provo and near UVU in Orem). However, this decision received significant opposition from some residents.
Service began 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 Kaufusi, UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez, Orem mayor Richard Brunst, and mascots Cosmo the Cougar and Willy the Wolverine.
Through 2023, there was no fee to ride on the UVX thanks to a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. This was later extended another year, with fares being implemented starting on August 18, 2024.
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 (Provo-Orem TRIP), 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 (instead of south along Geneva Road) and connect with the UVU campus by way of a new high-occupancy/toll (HOT) 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 (UCU/Sandhill) 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 (BRT) lines within about 7–16 years. One of the lines will run north from the Provo station following along 500 West (US-89) in Provo; State Street (US-89) through Provo, Orem, Lindon, Pleasant Grove; and Main Street (US-89) through American Fork until it reaches the American Fork FrontRunner station. Another BRT line will run south from the Provo station though East Bay Business Park, then east along 1860 South to State Street (US-89), then south through Springville on Main Street (US-89), then southwest along South State Road (SR-51) to Spanish Fork, finally through Spanish Fork (on Expressway Lane, 800 North, Main Street, Center Street) until it reaches the planned FrontRunner station in Spanish Fork (west of I-15 and south of Center Street).
Route
The Utah Valley Express is designated as UTA Route 830X. (The following route is description of the "locally preferred route" (LPR) and is still subject to minor changes before finalization.)
South Orem
The Utah Valley Express begins at the Orem Intermodal Center (FrontRunner station), which is located at 900 South 1350 West. After heading west to and then briefly south on Geneva Road (SR-114), it heads east on University Parkway (SR-265) 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 (through the roundabout) and then heads east on College Drive (on the southern edge of the UVU campus) 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 (located in the median of West University Parkway, just east of South 400 West).
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 (located in the median of East University Parkway, just east of South Main Street). After that stop it continues east in its dedicated inside lanes, crossing South 200 East and State Street (US-89) before passing by the south side of University Place and reaching the last stop in Orem (University Place) 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 (Freedom Boulevard) and North University Avenue (US-189).
Immediately after crossing North University Avenue, the Utah Valley Express continues east on East University Parkway in shared lanes and crosses North Canyon Road (North 150 East) 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 (yet unnamed) 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 (pedestrian path) 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 (BYU South Campus) stop on the southeast corner of BYU campus. This will stop is the primary stop for BYU campus and has two platforms (one on each side of East 900 North), 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 (heading east at this point) 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.