Officials at the Cache Valley Transit District and local dignitaries attend ribbon cutting ceremony for new CVTD LOOP service, Monday January 6, 2019
LOGAN – The LOOP is officially in service and available to Cache Valley residents.
The Cache Valley Transit District unveiled the new service expansion during a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday morning at the Transit Center located at 150 E. 500 N. in Logan.
The LOOP connects either Walmart on the north and south ends of Logan, the historic Logan downtown district, and Utah State University campus – all with no transfers and buses running every 15 minutes during peak hours.
“This has been years in the making,” said an emotional Todd Buetler, CVTD CEO and General Manager. “We are so grateful that we provide a service that impacts you in a very personal way. Grateful for the support we feel back from you as a community,” he said.
“This is a pretty monumental event for Cache Valley,” said Jeannie Simmonds, Logan City Council and CVTD Board member. “We are changing the look and feel of public transportation in Cache Valley.
“Right now, CVTD returns $5.38 to the local economy for every person that rides the bus. That’s higher than most transit districts and it’s due to our ‘no fare’ policy,” she said.
Simmonds added, “We encourage everyone to ride the bus. We think the LOOP is an exciting opportunity for access, reliability, and for just comfort and ease. It will allow both students to come to downtown…and we hope that local citizens will use the LOOP to go up to campus for theater events and concerts.”
Logan Mayor Holly Daines is excited the new service will give people another option to get around downtown and reduce some of the traffic flow along Main Street.
“This new service will be convenient and frequent and we already have a free fare system. What’s not to love about that,” she said. “We have excellent service and now a much more convenient service.”
“One of the things that makes this loop possible is a local option sales tax that the Cache County Council passed in May of 2018,” according to Cache County Executive Craig Buttars. “It became available through the state so that counties could address their own transportation needs. We are forward thinking; we are trying to see 20 years out as we plan for our transportation needs in the future and I think that is what is happening with the LOOP route.”
Beutler said the head signs above the bus will identify whether it’s “blue” or “green” loop – denoting which direction it is going. Also, there will be new signage at stops indicating a blue or green LOOP stop. Also, updated maps and brochures will be available as well. There are several different apps available where you can track your bus in real time and the transit app. You can get more details at www.cvtdbus.org.
Even with expanded service, Beutler said CVTD remains fare free.