In partnership with the Utah Division of Air Quality, the Utah Clean Air Partnership and the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, UTA is working to increase awareness about the impacts transportation habits have on Utah’s air quality.

Constantly monitoring Utah’s air to identify levels of ozone and unhealthy particulate matter, the DAQ coordinates with UTA on when to declare free fare days.

According to the DAQ, Mandatory Action Days are critical periods when Utahns should avoid high-emitting activities such as wood burning, operation of gasoline-powered yard equipment and extensive automobile usage.

In an attempt to mitigate the presence of unhealthy pollution levels, data about which can be found at air.utah.gov, all mass transit services will be free including UTA On Demand, which provides multiple riders within a service area a shared trip in a similar direction.

GREENBike, a Utah nonprofit bike sharing program, is also participating in the clean-air initiative by offering 24-hour usage for free with the promo code 8121 at any GREENBike station. The bike-share organization has six docking stations throughout Ogden.

While funding for a potentially zero-fare transit system is currently being studied by UTA, House Bill 353, which passed during the 2019 Utah legislative session, authorizes funding for Free Fare for Clean Air days.

UTA riders can plan a trip by downloading the Transit app. Service alert notifications, schedules, stop locations and route maps can be viewed at www.rideuta.com.