The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is adding five new bus lines and restoring service on lines that had service cut during the pandemic, reports Jordan Miller for The Salt Lake Tribune. “The service expansion comes after a nearly 16% jump in ridership last year and will restore routes that have been dormant since the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Police presence would look much different in Salt Lake City areas under a public safety plan the mayor’s office unveiled this week. And the bold initiative comes ahead of the proposed massive overhaul of a three-block downtown area east of the Delta Center that state leaders have said must include crime and homelessness mitigation plans.

Salt Lake City Erin Mendenhall released a plan to address homelessness after state leaders demanded one in a letter sent last month.

The comprehensive new initiative comes after Utah legislative leaders called on the city to fix the problems or have the state step in.