Moab, Utah, marked the launch of the city’s pilot transit service that will operate as Moab Area Transit (MAT), a fare-free, fixed-route and on-demand service designed to offer transportation options in Moab to residents and visitors.
A $10 million Utah Hotspot grant, which is administered by the Utah Department of Transportation, supported the development and launch of MAT. The Hotspot grant was awarded in 2018 to support projects that reduce traffic congestion, support economic development and increase recreation and tourism opportunities. Additional funding for MAT was provided by the city of Moab and Grand County.
One goal of the service is to reduce downtown traffic congestion and encourage visitors to leave their cars at their hotels. The city has a permanent population of more than 5,300 but hosts millions of visitors annually who come to visit nearby National Parks.
The Moab Area Transit program includes an on-demand microtransit service that will provide door-to-door transportation to and from any location within the broader service area. Transportation will be provided using 13 MAT-branded passenger vans.
MAT also includes a fixed-route service that will bring riders to predetermined destinations along Main Street. This route will provide regular stops between the Fairfield Inn north of town to the Utah State University Moab campus at Aggie Boulevard.
MAT riders can download the MAT app, supported by Downtowner App, Inc., to locate fixed-route stops, track fixed-route shuttle and schedule pick up/drop off within MAT’s microtransit zone.
MAT microtransit and fixed route will operate between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily from March 16 to Oct. 15. During late fall and early spring (Oct. 16 to March 15), MAT fixed-route service will not operate. However, MAT on-demand will operate abbreviated hours on weekdays only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
“Moab Area Transit will be an invaluable resource for all residents and visitors looking for new ways to navigate Moab,” said City of Moab Transit Coordinator Richard Lory. “A big step toward creating a more walkable city, this service will help to promote active transportation, decrease traffic and increase accessibility.”
