In this week’s episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort sits down with Jay Fox, Executive Director of the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) — one of the fastest-growing, highest-performing transit agencies in the United States and APTA’s 2025 Transit System of the Year.
Jay brings a remarkable background across FAA, FTA, Amtrak, and SEPTA — and now leads the agency serving one of the most dynamic, youthful, and transit-hungry regions in America.
Together, Paul and Jay dive into:
Preparing for the 2034 Winter Olympics
Jay shares why UTA told the IOC: “We’re ready now.”
UTA’s rail, BRT corridors, FrontRunner upgrades, and multimodal network already form a complete backbone for Olympic mobility — with more enhancements on the way.
FrontRunner 2X: The Generational Rail Project
UTA is pushing to move from 25% to 50% double-tracking, enabling:
-15-minute peak service
-A new infill station
-A new maintenance facility
-Pathways to Sunday service
…all while ridership continues to soar.
A Multimodal System Built for Growth
UTA operates:
-131 miles of rail (commuter, light rail, streetcar)
-Three BRT lines (including OGX, electric and wildly successful)
-Extensive bus, microtransit, vanpool, and paratransit services
-A booming Ski Bus network that keeps the canyons moving
Transit ROI: The Utah Model
Jay breaks down the hard numbers on economic impact:
-$9.6B in economic output generated
-$377M in tax revenue returned
-79,000 jobs supported
-Ever $1 invested netted a $5.11 returned to the regional economy
All from an operating budget of roughly $480M.
Why UTA’s Riders Are Getting Younger
Jay explains how university partnerships, free-fare programs, and campus connectivity are transforming ridership patterns — and why student riders today become lifelong riders tomorrow.
Global Collaboration
UTA is working with LA Metro, LA28, and Milan/Cortina teams to prepare for back-to-back Olympic cycles (2026, 2028, 2034), exchanging insights on operations, vehicle staging, and major-event transport logistics.
This is one of the most wide-ranging, energizing episodes we’ve recorded — and a perfect companion to our upcoming Transit Unplugged TV episode filmed on location in Utah.
Host: Paul Comfort
Executive Producer: Julie Gates
Producer: Paul Comfort
Editor: Patrick Emile
Associate Producer: Cyndi Raskin
Brand design: Tina Olagundoye
Social Media: Tatyana Mechkarova
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries, or any entities they represent (“Modaxo”). This production belongs to Modaxo, and may contain information that may be subject to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights and restrictions. This production provides general information, and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. Modaxo specifically disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and will not be liable for any losses, claims, or damages arising from the use of this presentation, from any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken in response to it.
