We’re excited to debut UTA’s new bus stop signs. These new signs are the result of a year-long process consisting of working with a consultant, creating the design, sourcing the production and working with UTA facilities team to get them installed.
The design tells you so much!
The new signs are more intuitive, provide you with key information, and work well with our preferred trip planning app, Transit.
First off, the sign displays the bus stop location (see the blue bar across the middle) so you know you are in the right place to catch the bus you want. After the location it tells you the direction the bus is heading (WB = West Bound, EB = East Bound, etc.), so you know you’re on the right side of the street too.
Second, check out the colored squares. The colors tell you the frequency and type of route. For example, route 21 is green because it runs every 15 minutes. Red means the route runs during rush hours only, and black means that it’s a seasonal route (like our ski routes). A white square indicates a regular route that runs every 30–60 minutes.
The third piece of information in the new signs: our bus route numbers. In Salt Lake City the route number tells you what street it travels along, like the 2, 9, and 21 run along 200 South, 900 South and 2100 South respectively. Those routes run east-west. Three-digit routes that begin with a two run north–south. For example, the 205 runs along 500 East and the 209 runs along 900 East traveling north–south. The power of Salt Lake City’s grid makes it so you almost don’t need a map!
Here are a few other things to know about our route numbers:
• In Weber and Davis County bus routes are three digits and begin with a six.
• In Utah County, bus routes are also three digits but begin with an eight.
• Most routes that run between counties are three digits and begin with a four.
Fourth, the new signs still include Ride Time info so you can text to quickly find out when the next bus is arriving.
Fifth, they are big! This increases visibility for our bus operators and riders alike.
Increased Accessibility and Reduced Costs
Last but not least, the pole the sign attaches to gives you information. Take a close look at it, you’ll notice it is bright blue and it’s eight-sided. These are the only eight-sided poles you’ll find on the Wasatch Front. This shape quickly communicates to people that are visually impaired that they are in the right spot to catch the bus.
The new sign design allows us to add a heavy-duty sticker—kind of like you do with your license plate registration sticker, so when a route changes, is discontinued, or a new one is added, we just add a sticker reducing maintenance costs.
More Bus Stop Improvements Coming
These bus stop signs are just the beginning of improved wayfinding for UTA. You may have also noticed the “Bay” signage on central stations like Salt Lake Central or Provo Central. These signs tell you where to catch a specific bus at our large multi-modal hubs. Next up are improved maps at these central stations and throughout the year the new bus stop signs will be making their way to more and more locations.
We’re working hard to make the system work for everyone and maybe someday soon, you'll say “Car. Car, smarh. I’ve got UTA.”