Legislators signed off Wednesday on an experimental program to help reduce air pollution by offering free fares during bad air days on Utah Transit Authority buses and trains.
HB353 originally proposed to spend $1.2 million to fund 17 free-fare days over three years. But the final version cut funding to $500,000, which would fund about seven free fare days. UTA estimates that each one costs about $70,000 in lost cash fares.
“It's basically to get people to try mass transit,” Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, told the Senate, as it approved but amended the bill on a 21-0 vote.