The Utah Transit Authority was incorporated on March 2, 1970 under authority of the Utah Public Transit District Act of 1969 to provide a public mass transportation system for Utah communities. The UTA system began operation August 10, 1970 in Salt Lake County with 67 buses.

Today, UTA operates a fleet of more than 600 buses and paratransit vehicles, 400 vanpools, 146 light rail vehicles, 63 commuter rail cars and 18 locomotives in a 1,600 square mile service area that stretches over six counties from Payson to Brigham City. The Authority serves the largest segment of population in the State of Utah, approximately 1.8 million and operates in one of the largest geographical service areas of any transit agency in the U.S.