Park City’s free transportation service sets the bar for public transit access in Utah. The fixed route buses combine with micro transportation options to ensure riders move seamlessly around Park City, Summit and Wasatch Counties 365 days a year. Paratransit services guarantee transportation for every community member with door-to-door pick-ups and drop-offs for individuals with disabilities. The frequency and scope of services pair with paratransit to create an ideal model of community transportation.

In 2021, Park City Municipal and Summit County addressed the growing need for commuter expansion by launching two civic organizations collaborating to provide cohesive public transport options. Park City Municipal oversees Park City Transit, specializing in commuting within the 84060 zip code: Old Town, Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley, Prospector Square, Park Meadows, and Quinn’s Junction. Summit County operates High Valley Transportation routes reaching Canyons Village, Kimball Junction, Jeremy Ranch, Kamas, Francis, Heber, and Salt Lake. The two transit organizations have some overlapping routes, allowing for seamless links between Park City, Kimball Junction, and other areas in Summit County.

ADA-Accessible Transit Options in Park City

Buses operated by both organizations are ADA-accessible. However, paratransit services – called the Mobility Bus with Park City Transit and Valley Ride with High Valley Transit – provide additional services like curb-to-curb rides, driver assistance, advanced scheduling, and same-day rides. The Mobility Bus and Valley Ride application process aims to secure reliable commuter options for people with disabilities.

“We have a short application,” High Valley Transit executive director Caroline Rodriguez explains the process, “[It] usually takes less than a week.” Plus, visitors with ADA Paratransit eligibility at home can forgo the application process and utilize Valley Ride for three weeks without filling out an application.

Park City Transit and High Valley Transit operate a fleet of ADA-accessible buses!

The availability and ease of transportation are one of the reasons why Madison Baumann decided to make Park City her home. When she moved from Salt Lake to Park City to work for the National Ability Center, the simplicity of transport was a game changer.

“When you're blind, it's difficult to make sure you're getting on the right bus,” explains Madison. “When I first moved up here, I lived in the Prospector area and learned about the Dial-A-Ride on-demand service with Park City Transit. I lived a couple of blocks from one of their stops… They would get me at the bus stop and drop me off at work, and then I'd call in the afternoon and do it in reverse. It was so seamless and easy.”

ADA-Accessible Transit Experience

As a consistent Dial-A-Ride user, Madison made many friends, including someone who encouraged her to apply for Paratransit. After completing the application, she was accepted into the program, making her daily commute and movement around town stress-free. “For someone who has a visual impairment, it's great because they'll pull right up to my front door and pick me up and drop me off right at the front door of where I need to go,” Madison describes. “For residents, the Mobility Bus is great because you can set up a subscription, which lasts up to six months. Every day, they pick me up at my house at eight o'clock in the morning, and they bring me to work.”

Riders can also schedule advanced or same-day transport for errands, doctor visits, and recreation. “You can send them [the Mobility Bus] an email saying, ‘I have an appointment on this day out at Kimball Junction. I need to get to the grocery store. I need to go wherever.’ They're great with email, phone calls, and basically any communication. And they will schedule a ride to get you where you need to go.”

As the National Ability Center’s reservations manager, Madison has many opportunities to share advice with visiting families. “For some families, I recommend getting a car… For others, it’s a cool experience to set up a temporary mobility account …. If you're here for a week, you can set rides up with the paratransit to get from point A to point B and back again.”

Madison catches a ride to the hill using PC's paratransit service!

A Ride for Every Body

Paratransit empowers people with disabilities by providing access to free transit every day of the year. “It's such an incredible service!” Madison exclaims. “The people that drive the bus are all happy to be there. They greet you every day with a smile on their face. It makes you feel welcome and want to ride the bus. I’ve been using the Mobility Bus for almost five years. It’s something I plan to continue to use forever. It’s helped me in more ways than I can even count.”

Park City Paratransit Application

More Adventures Around Park City

Plan Your Visit to Park City

Free Public Transit System

National Ability Center