It sounded like a decent idea: help address horrendous parking problems around the state Capitol during the 45-day legislative session and reduce air pollution by offering free UTA buses there every 15 minutes.
But those “Capitol Connector” buses averaged only five passengers per trip this year, according to agency data requested by The Salt Lake Tribune.
Since buses have between 35 and 37 seats each, the few passengers using them at least had plenty of room to stretch out.
“When UTA began offering this service, the organization recognized this would involve an educational process and it would take some time to build ridership on this route,” said UTA spokesman Carl Arky.