Utah commuters could soon ride mass transit for free or a discounted rate on days when the air is thick with inversion.

A legislative bill is scheduled for debate today that would allow people to ride for free on a bus or TRAX train during "red-burn" days. On "yellow-burn" days, riders could take transit for half price.

The goal of HB298 is to reduce vehicle congestion and pollution on days when people are advised to avoid their cars because of poor air quality, said sponsoring Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan. The measure would cost the Utah Transit Authority about $4 million in lost revenue, according to the bill's fiscal note.

Other transit agencies in Logan and Park City do not charge fares and would not be impacted, the fiscal note said.

"One of the missions of UTA is to go through and reduce vehicle congestion and reduce the pollution that comes from it," said Harper. "There's a lot of good that came come through this."

Harper said he got the idea for the measure while on a trip to Virginia. He said he saw a transit agency that offered free rides on yellow-burn days, and it cost about $1.5 million. Utah has about 40-50 red burn days a year, according to Harper.

"You've got to do something to reduce congestion," he said.

UTA officials have not taken a position on the issue. General Council Bruce Jones said his agency "would intend to monitor and watch this bill very closely."

If approved, UTA would have to determine a process by July 1 of this year for changing how it collects fares on red or yellow burn days. The agency would also need to determine a strategy for advertising the free rides.

In previous years, UTA has offered free rides on buses on Saturdays and also when a corporate sponsor has funded free riders. No such services are known to be available at present.

Groups such as Utah Moms for Clean Air say they are aware of the bill and support its intent. They are reviewing the measure and watching its progression.

"It's an appropriate thing to offer free fares to people who are doing the right thing for society — and the right thing is to not be driving a car," said Cherise Udell, co-founder of the group.

Ironically, a legislative audit was just recently released that said UTA had a negligible effect on air quality because of the pollution released from its buses. The agency said, however, it is working to upgrade old buses to work with cleaner technology.

HB298 is scheduled to be heard at 3:10 p.m. today in the House Business and Labor Committee, located in room 450 of the state Capitol.

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com