Draper riders can board any Utah Transit Authority train or bus without paying a cent through Sunday night, Sept. 20, as UTA overhauls its fare collection technology.

The agency declared a Zero Fare period on all services from Friday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Sept. 20, covering TRAX, FrontRunner, Ski Bus, PC-SLC Connect, the S-Line Streetcar, UTA On Demand and Paratransit, the Standard-Examiner first reported. No tickets, passes or fare validation are required.

"For this weekend, the message is simple: just board and ride," UTA Senior Public Information Officer Gavin Gustafson told the Standard-Examiner on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Ticket vending machines at stations will not sell tickets during the three-day window, according to a UTA FAQ document. Riders who have electronic fare cards or FAREPAY cards can still tap them on readers. Card readers will display "Zero Fare," flash a green light and apply no charge.

UTA said it chose the blanket suspension rather than asking riders to deal with intermittent outages while crews upgrade interconnected systems. Those systems include ticket vending machines, FAREPAY cards, validators and account management tools.

What the upgrade brings

Gustafson said the modernization will deliver fare capping that automatically gives frequent riders the best value, improved FAREPAY account management online and at vending machines, enhanced security for lost or stolen cards, and future payment options including credit cards, debit cards and mobile wallets. The upgrades also aim to provide faster payment options for occasional riders and visitors.

Gustafson said a systemwide Zero Fare period tied to a fare collection upgrade is uncommon. UTA has previously offered Zero Fare on specific bus rapid transit routes and for special events, he said, but not across all services for an upgrade of this scale.

If you accidentally buy a ticket

Anyone who activated a Transit app mobile ticket during the Zero Fare period can call UTA Customer Service at 801-RIDE-UTA (801-743-3882). The line is open Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Riders can also email [email protected].

The Zero Fare period ends Sunday, Sept. 20.