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Mission Statement

Utah Transit Riders Union advocates for transit users statewide. We strive to make transit reliable, accessible, comfortable, efficient, and affordable for all—and to foster a transit-affirming culture. 

UTRU welcomes people of all ages and from all social, cultural, and economic backgrounds who use public transit out of necessity, convenience, or for the common good. Together, we advocate for the best transit system — for today and for the future. 

Unified effort

Our Principles

Utah Transit Riders Union recognizes that change is best effected by concerted effort and that concerted effort is obtained through principled choices. Choosing to invest effort in backing one proposal frequently necessitates bypassing others. A principled approach to prioritizing competing interests assures that our voice is unified and our efforts are multiplied. 

The following Principles are the platform by which UTRU’s direction is guided. UTRU will attempt to focus the energies of the Union upon efforts that best represent its Principles. As is the case with all platforms it is a living document that can be amended as outlined in our bylaws. 

We recognize that there are issues beyond the ones listed below — such as environmental stewardship and social justice — that dovetail with our overall mission, but are being adequately addressed by other organizations. To the extent practicable, we’ll work with such organizations as we further our shared goals. 

Affordable transit systems understand their roles as community infrastructure. Transit isn’t an amenity, it’s a necessity. 

Goals

Affordable

Affordable transit systems understand their roles as community infrastructure. Transit isn’t an amenity, it’s a necessity.

Accessible

Accessible transit systems actively serve the needs of minority or disadvantaged communities who, in turn, become fundamental to the system’s long term strategic and financial health. When accessibility is a priority, all transit users are better served.

Reliable

Reliable transit systems allow people to make life-changing decisions about where and how to live—confident that their decisions will remain valid over the long term. Reliable transit systems also re-enfranchise disadvantaged persons by offering them a way to be vibrant members of their immediate and extended communities.

Efficient

Efficient transit systems are able to accomplish more with limited resources. This includes not only serving more riders but serving them better. Efficient transit systems honor their host communities by being resource aware and resource wise.

Comfortable

Comfortable transit systems encourage widespread adoption by the community, resulting in increased ridership and more political capital. Comfortable transit systems achieve these goals by reinforcing the dignity and safety of the rider.

Affirming

A transit-affirming culture legitimizes transit and reinforces the dignity of the transit rider. In so doing, it greatly increases transit use and inoculates riders against the occasional inconveniences they bare. Put another way, transit affirmation grows and empowers a loyal user base.