Ogden Express

Ogden Express (OGX), is an under construction 5.3-mile (8.5 km) bus rapid transit (BRT) line in southern Ogden, Utah, United States.[3] The line will be operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) and will run between the Ogden Intermodal Transit Center (FrontRunner station) to the McKay-Dee Hospital, by way of Weber State University (WSU). It is anticipated to be completed by 2023.[3][4][1]:3–6 It is the third of UTA's BRT lines along the Wasatch Front. The line partially opened on August 29, 2022 between Weber State Central station and Dee Events Center station as line 602.

Ogden Express (OGX)
Overview
Other name(s)Ogden/WSU BRT (during planning)
StatusPartially operating, under construction
OwnerUtah Transit Authority (UTA)
LocaleOgden, Utah, United States
Termini
Stations13[1]
Service
TypeBus rapid transit (BRT)
SystemUTA MAX
Route number602
Rolling stockGillig Low Floor Plus (battery electric)[2]
History
Planned opening2023 (2023) (full line)[3]
OpenedAugust 29, 2022 (2022-08-29) (WSU Campus shuttle)
Technical
Line length5.3 mi (8.5 km)[1]
CharacterAt-grade
Operating speed40 mph (64 km/h)
(maximum posted speed limit)
Route diagram

Ogden Intermodal Transit Center
 750  to Provo via Salt Lake
The Junction
Washington Blvd & 25th St
25th St & Jefferson Ave
25th St & Monroe Blvd
Harrison Blvd & 25th St
Harrison Blvd & 28th St
Harrison Blvd & 32nd St
Harrison Blvd & 36th St
Weber State Central
Wildcat Village
Dee Events Center
McKay-Dee Hospital
Handicapped/disabled access all stations accessible

busway stop
on-street stop

Description

The Ogden Express will connect the Ogden Intermodal Transit Center with Lindquist Field, The Junction, the Ogden/Weber Municipal Building, downtown Ogden, Ogden High School, Weber State University (including the Dee Events Center), and McKay-Dee Hospital. Much of the route will run along Harrison Boulevard (Utah State Route 203). UTA had anticipated having the Ogden Express operational by 2020, but by late May 2020,[5][6]:35 construction was not expected to even begin until fall of the same year.[4]

The BRT service will connect with Greyhound inter-city buses and the FrontRunner at Ogden Intermodal Transit Center. The FrontRunner is a commuter rail service run by UTA that operates along the Wasatch Front with service from Provo, through Salt Lake County (including Salt Lake City), Davis County, Weber County, and Ogden. The FrontRunner also connects with UTA's TRAX light rail system in the Salt Lake Valley[7] as well as Amtrak's California Zephyr (which runs daily between Chicago, Illinois and the San Francisco Bay Area).

Plans call for the Dee Events Center Campus Shuttle Stop to be upgraded to a transit center that would serve automobiles and bicycles (with bicycle facilities), as well as connect with local bus routes.[1]:3[8]

The planned schedule is for the Ogden Express to run every 10 minutes on weekdays between 6:00 am and 5:00 pm, but reducing to every 15 minutes for the remainder of the 20–hour schedule. On weekends the frequency will be every 15 or 30 minutes.[9]

Route

The Ogden Express does not yet have a designated route number, but it will replace the current UTA Route 603.

The anticipated route will begin in the Ogden Intermodal Transit Center in west–central Ogden. It will then run east on 23rd Street to Washington Boulevard (U.S. Route 89) before turning south along that street. It will then head east again on 25th Street to Harrison Boulevard (Utah State Route 203) and turn south again along that street. After passing the Ogden High School, beginning at about 31st Street, the route will transition to bus–only lanes in the center of the road. At about 37th Street, the route will shift east, off Harrison Boulevard and onto a busway that cuts across main campus of WSU to continue south, passing near existing campus buildings. South of the student housing buildings, the route will pass through a residential area until it reaches the Dee Events Center. After passing just west of the Events Center, the route will turn northwest, cross Harrison Boulevard and loop counterclockwise at McKay-Dee Hospital, before returning along the same route to the Ogden Intermodal Transit Center.

History

Planning for the project official began with the transit corridor study in November 2004.[10] In early planning serious consideration was given to using a streetcar (similar to UTA 's S Line) to satisfy the transportation needs along the corridor,[11] but ultimately it was decided that BRT was the better option due to the costs involved with streetcar.[12]

On September 22, 2021, UTA officially announced the service is named the Ogden Express (OGX).[3] Prior to the announcement, the project had been known as the Ogden/WSU BRT".[9]

The line partially opened on August 29, 2022 between Weber State Central station and Dee Events Center station as line 602.[13]

Stations

Station Opening date UTA Connections[Note 1] Park and
Ride Lot
Notes
Ogden Intermodal Transit Center 2023  750  455, 470, 473, 601, 604, 613, F618, F620, 630, 650, 674, 675 Yes
23rd Street & Lincoln Avenue No Future stop that would serve Lindquist Field
The Junction 601 Serves The Junction
Washington Blvd & 25th St 470, 601, 604, 612 Serves Ogden/Weber Municipal Building
25th St & Jefferson Ave Serves United States Forest Service Building
25th St & Monroe Blvd 645
25th St & Jackson Ave
Harrison Blvd & 25th St 473, 625
Harrison Blvd & 28th St 625 Serves Ogden High School
Harrison Blvd & 30th St
Harrison Blvd & 32nd St 455, 625, 645 Serves Mount Ogden Jr. High School
Harrison Blvd & 36th St 455, 625, 640, 645, 650
Weber State Central August 29, 2022 Serves Weber State University main campus
Wildcat Village Serves Weber State University student housing (Wildcat Village)
Dee Events Center 645 Yes Serves Dee Events Center
McKay-Dee Hospital 2023 645 No Serves McKay-Dee Hospital

See also

Notes

  1. Bus connection routes are current as of Change Day, August 11, 2019

References

  1. Federal Transit Administration (February 22, 2019). Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Ogden/Weber State University Transit Project (PDF). rideuta.com (Report). Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  2. OGX Tour with UTA's James Larson (Video). Utah Transit Authority. September 22, 2021. Event occurs at 0:11. Retrieved July 6, 2022 via YouTube.
  3. Williams, Carter (September 22, 2021). "UTA's Ogden rapid bus project has a new name as it inches closer to completion". ksl.com. Salt Lake City: Deseret Digital Media. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  4. Willliams, Carter (May 28, 2020). "Construction for Ogden bus rapid transit system to begin in fall with $64.5M federal grant". ksl.com. Salt Lake City: Deseret Digital Media. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  5. "Ogden BRT" (PDF). rideuta.com. Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  6. Federal Transit Administration and Utah Transit Authority (December 2018). Environmental Assessment: Ogden/Weber State University Transit Project (PDF). rideuta.com (Report). Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  7. "UTA RAIL SYSTEM MAP". rideuta.com. Utah Transit Authority. December 2013. Archived from the original on June 9, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  8. "Ogden/Weber State University BRT Project Profile". transit.dot.gov. Federal Transit Administration. February 11, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  9. "Ogden/WSU BRT". rideuta.com. Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  10. Update on the Ogden Bus Rapid Transit Project. ogdencity.com (Report). Ogden City Council. October 1, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  11. "Streetcar or Bus Rapid Transit in Ogden?" (PDF). weber.edu. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  12. "Stacy and Witbeck Inc. Tapped to Build Ogden BRT Line". Construction Equipment Guide. Vol. 13 (Utah State ed.). Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. June 21, 2020. p. 6. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  13. Fox, Derick (August 24, 2022). "UTA opens new Ogden Express Wildcat Shuttle". ABC4 Utah (KTVX). Retrieved September 1, 2022.
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