The US Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded $75m to the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) for the construction of a new 10.5-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) line south of Salt Lake City.

A part of the $150m Provo-Orem BRT project, the BRT line will run between two of the state's biggest universities.

The FTA will be providing the funds through its Capital Investment Grant (CIG) programme.

"The Provo-Orem BRT line will add another important link in Salt Lake City’s increasingly comprehensive regional transit system."

US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said: “When completed, the Provo-Orem BRT line will add another important link in Salt Lake City’s increasingly comprehensive regional transit system.

“The Obama Administration is pleased to support a project that will provide quick and efficient transit access to jobs, schools and other opportunities in Utah’s growing Wasatch Front region.”

The new BRT line will connect Provo, Utah’s third-largest city, with Orem.

FTA acting administrator Carolyn Flowers said: “The Provo-Orem BRT line will help create new connections for residents, commuters, and students and faculty travelling to and from the universities and Provo’s bustling downtown.

“This new transportation option will serve an area that is seeing significant job growth, and help the two cities limit traffic congestion and reduce their environmental footprint even as their populations increase.”

According to the UTA, an average of more than 11,000 weekday journeys will be provided via the BRT line in 2019.