
Provo, Orem, BYU and UVU are now connected with the UVX. The UVX opened on Aug. 13 and anyone can ride free until 2021. (Ty Mullen)
A new high-capacity bus rapid transit system called the Utah Valley Express is a key part of student life in Provo and Orem this fall.
According to Utah Transit Authority
UVX began operating on Aug. 13, and students from BYU and UVU have already come to rely on the system to get around. UVX will be free to use for the next three years, according to Utah Transit Authority
Citing the bus system’s reliability and frequent stops, students ride UVX for everything from daily commutes to Walmart trips. UVX is particularly helpful for students who have limited access to other transportation.

Students use UVX to get around Provo and Orem. Several commented they appreciated UVX's convenience and ease of use. (Ty Mullen)
“It’s my go-to method for going off campus,” said BYU freshman Ashton Tanner, who is studying biology. Though Tanner said she accidentally left the bus at an incorrect stop on the first day of classes this semester, she now finds UVX straightforward to use and has made UVX part of her daily routine.
One of Tanner’s roommates, Emma Stevenson, also a freshman compared UVX with Provo’s older bus lines and called UVX 'the easiest to figure out.” She also praised the frequency with which buses arrive at stops.
Stevenson said she became aware UTA services were free to BYU students through an Instagram post. She said she now uses UVX occasionally to go shopping.
Ewerton Barroso, a 24-year-old student at Provo language center Internexus

Ewerton Barroso, 24, uses UVX for his daily commute. UVX opened to the public on Aug. 13 and will be free for the next three years. (Ty Mullen)
Though neither Tanner nor Stevenson said they have access to other forms of transportation, the UVX system is also useful to students with vehicles.
Daniel McPherson, a junior studying physics at BYU, has access to a car, but said he uses UVX daily in tandem with the older bus system. Still, McPherson said he uses UVX to save gas and share a car with his wife.
Marlena Roach, a BYU junior studying athletic training, took to using UVX since her truck began to “have issues.” She said she finds UVX convenient, but is concerned that the placement of some UVX stops on islands in the middle of roads could cause jaywalking.
Grace Green, a freshman at UVU, owns a car but said she uses UVX for her daily commute so she does not have to deal with campus parking. She said the timing of the buses is sometimes inconvenient, but is generally not a problem.

UVX riders will now be connected to major locations in Provo and Orem, including shopping centers, universities and entertainment locations. (Ty Mullen)
According to the Utah Transit Authority
For a map of the UVX route, visit the Utah Transit Authority