Utah Valley Express Bus Rapid Transit Transportation Improvement Project (TRIP)

Our Client’s Challenge

With congestion increasing across the United States, communities have turned to bus rapid transit (BRT) systems as an affordable transit alternative. Historically, the Utah Valley has had limited transit infrastructure. Consequently, the surrounding cities had limited transportation options and restricted access to essential amenities. Growth from Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University, along with new housing and economic development opportunities, necessitated more mobility improvements in the Provo-Orem corridor.

To address this increasing demand, multiple transit agencies, including Utah Transit Authority (UTA), the Utah Department of Transportation, and Mountainland Association of Governments, developed the Utah Valley Express BRT Transportation Improvement Project (TRIP) from Provo to Orem. This project provides more frequent, higher-speed, and higher-capacity transit services, connecting local residents and university students to FrontRunner, a commuter rail service operated by UTA, and major commerce destinations.

Our Solution

Gannett Fleming delivered comprehensive project management oversight services through an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with the Federal Transit Administration. Our services included project organization review, project management systems review, compliance with Federal Capital Improvement Grant requirements, design and construction progress review, procurement management, public outreach oversight, and safety and security management.

Our team conducted a thorough risk assessment that identified threats to the project budget and schedule, including third-party complications, community opposition, utility relocations, right-of-way issues, and environmental impacts. We collaborated with the project sponsor to develop a robust risk management plan and monitored its implementation.

The $149 million BRT corridor encompasses 10.5 miles of roadway, stations, expansion of an existing bus maintenance facility, 25 new 60-foot articulated buses, and other transit improvements, along with upgrades to pedestrian and bike lanes, intersections, and intermodal facilities.

The project included 18 stations for easy boarding, transit signal priority technology, platform canopies, seating, and off-board fare collection systems. Most projects incorporated dedicated BRT lanes in the center of state highways and arterial streets. Sixty-foot articulated buses, powered by clean-air diesel-electric hybrid motors, connect riders to universities, major employment centers, shopping malls, and downtown Orem and Provo.

Key Features

18 new stations served by articulated buses every six minutes during peak travel times.
Dedicated bus lanes with traffic signal priority.
Roadway widening and intersection improvements.
University Parkway Bridge over the Provo River bridge replacement.
Pedestrian-friendly crosswalks.
Additional bike lanes, sidewalks, and trail upgrades.
Noise walls along University Parkway.

Outcomes

Promotes sustainable urban growth and reduces environmental impact.
Boosts economic vitality and enhances accessibility to major destinations.
Expands available transportation choices for residents and visitors.
Improves quality of life.
Encourages public transit use and facilitates seamless transit connections.
Reduces motor vehicle trips and travel times.
Increases safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Protects the federal interest through enforcing compliance with relevant requirements.