UTRAC
UTA partners with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to support transportation research projects. UTRAC is UDOT’s Research & Innovation Division’s annual research prioritization workshop that allocates state funds for research. Workshop participants include professionals from UDOT, the Federal Highway Administration, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, transit agencies, universities, and the private sector. The annual prioritization process matches up today’s toughest transportation challenges with the best problem solvers available to develop implementation-ready solutions. Whether you have an intractable transportation-related challenge or are part of a talented problem-solving team, UTRAC is here to help fuel tomorrow’s innovative transportation solutions today! For more information, visit.
Current Projects and Research
Transit Signal Priority for Bus
- Transit Signal Priority (TSP) is a technology that gives public transit vehicles priority at intersections.
- This project represents a significant advance in both the technology and the use of TSP in the UTA bus fleet.
- TSP reduces travel time, improves service reliability, and enhances the customer experience. In partnership with UDOT, the UTA TSP project also allows longer green traffic lights for late buses on select routes.
- Approximately 330 buses will be equipped between 2023 and 2027. This represents half of UTA’s existing fleet and all new regular buses.
- UDOT’s $17 million investment and partnership are critical to this effort, which achieves many road safety objectives including snowplow performance improvement and road condition warnings.
Regionally Significant Event Capacity Study
Project Summary
This project aims to help UTA evaluate how best to approach planning for future megaevents, including the 2034 Winter Olympics. With the support of UTA Planners, UTRAC researchers are evaluating how other communities have planned transit for megaevents and are conducting both qualitative and quantitative investigations into the impacts these events may have on UTA's services.
Analysis of Roadways to Identify Ideal Locations to Implement Dedicated Bus Lanes and Other Small-Scale Treatments
Project Summary
The increasing congestion on urban roadways poses a significant challenge to efficient public transportation. Physical treatments such as queue jumps, dedicated lanes, and bus-on-shoulder operation, and stop improvements have the potential to improve route efficiency and incentivize ridership by providing a reliable and comparable alternative to private vehicles. However, identifying the most beneficial locations for these smaller-scale implementations is crucial to maximizing their effectiveness. This research aims to create a "hit list" of roadways where certain treatments are both feasible and desirable, considering the constraints and capacity retention requirements.
Completed Projects and Research
- Utah Automated Shuttle Pilot
- WattSmart UTA Energy Plan
- IMS Service Planning
- Polarized Infrared Assessment
- Identifying Transit Corridors with Greatest Potential to Benefit from Transit Signal Priority