Every bus, FrontRunner train and TRAX line across the Utah Transit Authority system will be free to ride from Friday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Sept. 20.

UTA is suspending all fare collection for the weekend while crews upgrade the software and hardware behind ticket vending machines, FAREPAY cards, validators and online account tools. The agency announced the Zero Fare weekend in a Sept. 9 press release, reported by the Standard-Examiner.

For riders in Bountiful, Woods Cross, North Salt Lake and Farmington, the free window covers FrontRunner commuter rail through Davis County and bus routes connecting those cities to Ogden and Salt Lake City.

"For this weekend, the message is simple: just board and ride," UTA Senior Public Information Officer Gavin Gustafson told the Standard-Examiner. Gustafson said no tickets, passes, FAREPAY cards or fare validation will be required during the three-day window.

He said the interconnected nature of UTA's fare systems made a full suspension more practical than a phased rollout. Shutting everything down at once lets crews finish the work without forcing riders to navigate intermittent outages or temporary workarounds.

The upgrade is not routine.

Gustafson called a systemwide Zero Fare period tied to fare collection changes "uncommon," noting it reflects the scale of the modernization effort. UTA has offered free rides on individual bus rapid transit lines and during special events before, but a systemwide suspension for a technology overhaul is a different matter.

Once the new system is live, riders can expect several changes. Fare capping will automatically give frequent riders the best value. FAREPAY account management will improve both online and at vending machines. Security protections for lost or stolen cards will be stronger. UTA also plans to accept credit cards, debit cards and mobile wallets in the future.

Riders do not need to do anything special to take advantage of the free weekend. Normal schedules remain in effect. UTA has not announced when normal fare collection resumes after the weekend ends Sept. 20.