Route 70: 'Milk run' bus services folks between Salt Lake and Ogden

Utah Transit Authority's bus No. 70, running between Salt Lake City and Ogden, is probably Utah's greatest daily "milk run" bus route.

By 4:30 a.m. each weekday, two No. 70 buses are already rolling through the heart of Davis County, rain or shine. Just after midnight, a pair of buses is still running. According to UTA statistics, an average of 3,801 passengers each weekday ride this bus — the highest number in the UTA fleet.

Even on Saturdays, Sundays and most holidays, this bus route offers limited passenger service.

Route 70 averages 44.2 total passengers per trip. That's the fourth-highest UTA bus in that category and exceeded only by three express bus routes in Utah County.

Because of high gasoline prices, the number of riders also has increased on the route, as well as have most UTA buses, in recent weeks.

Although the express buses offer generally faster travel to Salt Lake City or Ogden from Davis County, that's not always the case. A freeway accident or icy roads can make using Route 70 just as fast or faster.

Route 70 begins at 400 S. State in Salt Lake City. It uses Beck Street (though several routes a day access the State Capitol) and takes the old highway from Bountiful to Layton — going down many Main streets. It accesses many neighborhoods and ends its run at 17th Street and Wall Avenue in Ogden.

The entire approximate 25-mile run through Davis County takes the bus just over an hour in ideal conditions, longer in rush hours. The entire run, Salt Lake City to Ogden, takes almost two hours, and a typical Layton passenger going to downtown Salt Lake City will spend a full hour on the bus.

Route 70 also has more bus stops — approximately 270 each direction (and about 175 of them of them are in Davis County) than any other UTA bus route.

The bus is packed many days, especially in summer, taking many passengers to Farmington, where they can catch a seasonal shuttle bus that serves Lagoon.

Route 70 is also popular with students who do not drive or take a school bus, since it passes right by Davis High School, Centerville Junior High, North Davis Junior High and is in easy walking distance of Clearfield, Layton and Viewmont high schools.

The bus also serves a significant number of riders in each demographic category that UTA measures, and it has consistently high ridership all along the route.

Route 70 buses also transport passengers who use wheelchairs most days, as well.