Commuting To The University Of Utah: How Many Students?

The University of Utah is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was established in 1850 and is the state's oldest institution of higher education. The university has a large student population, with 26,827 undergraduate and 8,409 graduate students enrolled as of fall 2023, for a total enrollment of 35,236. This makes it the second-largest public university in Utah. The university offers a range of transportation services and parking options for students who commute to campus, including buses, trains, and shuttle services. While the university has traditionally been known as a commuter school, it is working to add more on-campus housing and create a 24/7 college experience for its students.

The University of Utah is building more on-campus housing to encourage a community feel

The University of Utah is a large public university with a total undergraduate enrollment of 26,827 students as of Fall 2023. The campus size spans 1,534 acres, and the university offers various campus housing options to its students.

The University of Utah understands the importance of fostering a sense of community and is committed to creating a campus city where students can find their place and have unique living-learning experiences. To achieve this, the university has embarked on an ambitious project called "college town magic." This initiative aims to significantly increase the housing capacity by adding more on-campus housing options, with a target of providing 12,000 beds.

The new housing projects will transform the campus into a vibrant and cohesive community, enhancing the overall student experience. By living on campus, students can enjoy the convenience of easy access to classes, resources, and campus amenities. They can also take advantage of the various perks, such as meal plans, shuttle services, and the opportunity to choose their preferred community.

The University of Utah offers a range of housing options to cater to diverse student needs. The Sunnyside Apartments, for example, are designed for single graduate students or students with families. These apartments are located just ten minutes from the main campus and offer a range of amenities, including children's programs, cultural activities, and regular events. The University also operates 1,117 apartments, with plans to open additional units in the future, ensuring that students have access to safe and comfortable housing during their academic journey.

In addition to the Sunnyside Apartments, the University of Utah provides other housing options such as the University Guest House, a 180-room hotel on campus that offers affordable and convenient accommodation within walking distance of the main campus. The University also offers first-year housing in Housing U in CIS, with applications already open for the 2025-2026 academic year.

By investing in more on-campus housing, the University of Utah demonstrates its commitment to creating a cohesive and inclusive community. This initiative will not only provide students with convenient and accessible housing options but also contribute to a sense of belonging and enhance their overall educational experience.

The university offers a range of parking permits for students who commute by car

The University of Utah is a public institution with a total undergraduate enrollment of 26,827 students as of Fall 2023. Although many students are enrolled in online courses, a large number still commute to campus regularly.

There are several types of parking permits available for students:

• U Permit: This permit is ideal for students living off campus. It allows parking in various 'U' lots across campus and designated 'A' lots after 3 p.m.
• HU Permit: The HU permit is for students living on campus, allowing them to park overnight in housing lots and also in 'U' lots. However, overnight parking is not permitted in certain 'U' lots.
• HCU Permit: The HCU permit offers similar benefits to the HU permit but includes additional perks. It allows parking in the housing lots, Central Garage, the Lassonde Studio Lot, and 'U' lots.
• CU Permit: The CU permit is available to all students and permits parking in the Central Garage, the Lassonde Studio Lot, and 'U' lots, but not in the housing lots.

In addition to these options, the university also offers short-term parking alternatives for students who only need to park on campus occasionally or weekly. These include purchasing a Day Pass online or paying an hourly rate at specific campus lots.

Students can use their university IDs to ride UTA buses, TRAX, and FrontRunner for free

The University of Utah is a public institution founded in 1850 with a total undergraduate enrollment of 26,827 students as of Fall 2023. The university has partnered with the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) to offer students, staff, and faculty free rides on most UTA services. This includes UTA buses, TRAX, and FrontRunner trains.

To use this service, students need to carry their UCard (university ID) and tap it on the card readers when boarding and exiting a train or bus. This process is important as it shows that a valid fare has been paid and helps UTA gather ridership data to adjust its services. Additionally, tapping the card when entering and exiting is a requirement of the transit pass agreement between the university and UTA.

The TRAX Red Line and several UTA bus routes directly serve the university's campus, making public transportation easily accessible to students. This partnership with UTA provides a convenient, flexible, and cost-effective option for students to commute to and from the university.

Furthermore, commuters can bring their bicycles or personal scooters on buses and trains, offering an added advantage for those who live farther away or prefer a more active commute. The UTA pass for students is valid on various services, including Bus, Express Bus, TRAX, FrontRunner, S-Line, and UTA On-Demand. However, it's important to note that the pass program does not include UTA paratransit and ski bus services.

The university provides a shuttle service to transport students around the campus

The University of Utah is a large public institution with a total undergraduate enrollment of 26,827 students as of Fall 2023. The campus size spans 1,534 acres, so a shuttle service is a great way to help students get around.

The University of Utah's Campus Shuttle system provides accessible routes and schedules to keep the university community moving. The shuttle service is free and operates Monday through Friday, except during academic breaks. The main routes are the Blue Detour, Orange, Circulator, and Sunnyside routes, which run from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm or 7:00 pm, depending on the route. The hospital routes provide regular service during the week and limited service on the weekends. The Wasatch Express and Shoreline routes run from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm, while the BSB-U Hospital route runs from 5:55 am to 6:45 pm.

Students can easily track all campus shuttles live, find the nearest stop, and see estimated arrival times using the TransLoc or MobileU apps. The shuttles accommodate personal scooters and skateboards, but not bicycles. The university also adjusted its shuttle service during the COVID-19 pandemic to increase service frequency during peak hours and prevent overcrowding.

In addition to the campus shuttle, the university offers other transportation options for commuters. These include the SafeRide program, which functions like a rideshare service within university boundaries on weeknights, and various parking permit options for students who drive to campus. The university also encourages students to consider sustainable alternatives, such as cycling or taking public transportation, with access to UTA buses, TRAX, and FrontRunner trains at no cost.

The university offers a range of transportation options, including bus, train, bike, and walking

The University of Utah is an urban public institution with a large campus of 1,534 acres. With a total undergraduate enrollment of 26,827 (as of Fall 2023), many students commute to the university, and the university offers a range of transportation options, including bus, train, bike, and walking.

Bus

The university has a partnership with UTA, which provides students, staff, and faculty with access to the majority of UTA services. Students can use their UCard to tap on and off on the card readers when boarding and exiting UTA buses, TRAX, and FrontRunner trains at no cost. There are over 60 UTA bus stops on campus, and several UTA bus routes serve the campus, making public transportation accessible to those in the Wasatch Front. The TRAX Red Line and several UTA bus routes come directly to campus.

Train

There are four TRAX stations on campus, although these are only accessible via the Red Line. The FrontRunner service does not go directly to campus but is a good option for those commuting to Salt Lake City from Davis and Utah County. The S-Line streetcar is also available, connecting riders to residential and commercial areas in Sugar House and South Salt Lake City, including TRAX and bus stations.

Bike

The university offers free outdoor bicycle parking within 50 feet of almost every building. Cyclists can also utilize the secure bicycle lockers located at certain buildings and parking garages. There is a Campus Bike Shop on-site, which offers bicycle maintenance services, and is open Monday to Friday. Bicycles locked to anything other than bicycle racks will be impounded.

Walking

The university has a Campus Shuttle system, which transports students to popular locations around the campus, including the Union, housing areas, UTA bus stops, and TRAX stations. Personal scooters and skateboards are welcome on board, but bicycles are not allowed on shuttles. The Blue, Orange, and Circulator Shuttles have increased their service frequency during peak hours to avoid overcrowding.

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