SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority is adding emergency call boxes to 50 TRAX and FrontRunner stations.
The boxes allow riders to connect with the UTA Transit Police Department 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The call boxes are free and can be used by pressing a red button and talking into a hands-free microphone. The boxes comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and are accessible to all riders.
Calls connect directly to transit police dispatchers, who automatically receive data showing them where the caller is located. The boxes will be monitored by video.
Boxes have already been added to Salt Lake Central, Millcreek, Meadowbrook, Murray North, Murray Central, Midvale Fort Union and Midvale Center stations. They will be installed at remaining stations throughout the summer and fall.
UTA facilities maintenance manager Tom Hare said the call boxes will improve UTA’s emergency response by allowing riders to connect directly to transit police. The call boxes will also replace pay phones at some stations, many of which were rarely used.
Riders should note that the emergency call boxes connect automatically to transit police and cannot be used to answer general service questions.
Questions about nonemergency issues such as fares, policies, delays and trip planning should be directed to UTA’s customer service line, 801-RIDE-UTA or Twitter feed, @rideuta.