UTA TRAX
Encyclopedia
TRAX is a three-line light rail
system in Utah
's Salt Lake Valley
, serving Salt Lake City and several of its suburbs throughout Salt Lake County
. The system is operated by the Utah Transit Authority
(UTA).
The first line, running from downtown Salt Lake City
south to Sandy
, was completed in 1999. The second line from downtown to the University of Utah
was completed in 2001 and extended in 2003. An extension to the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub
was completed in April 2008. In August 2011, two extensions to South Jordan
and West Valley City
were completed. Plans call for two additional TRAX extensions to Draper
and the Salt Lake City International Airport
to be finished by 2014. The extensions to South Jordan, West Valley City, Draper and the airport were funded in part by a Salt Lake County sales tax increase that would pay for all four of the proposed TRAX lines. A letter of intent signed with the Federal Transit Administration
on September 24, 2007 secured the remaining funding for the light rail lines.
Both the University Line and its extension to the University Medical Center were completed ahead of schedule. Additional expansions have been proposed for the near future, all four of which have been approved and funded. A daily ridership of 15,000 was expected for the initial 15 miles (24.1 km) line in 1999. Soon after, the expanded system of 17.5 miles (28.2 km) was claimed to serve an estimated 60,000 passengers each day., though with an improved counting system, this was revised to 40,000. The American Public Transportation Association estimated second quarter 2011 ridership at 43,500, making it the tenth-busiest light rail system in the country The UTA predicts ridership will increase to 58,000 by the end of 2011, in part due to the completion of the West Valley and South Jordan extensions.
was first seriously discussed in the late 1980s to provide an alternative to traffic congestion on I-15, but the idea was met with much criticism. On October 10, 1988, Congress approved $5 million in funds to preserve land along the proposed light rail corridor. Funding for the light rail line itself, however, remained uncertain. After Salt Lake City won the bid for the 2002 Winter Olympics
in 1995, UTA used the city's host status to accelerate obtaining funding through the Federal Transit Administration
(FTA). Construction began in 1997. Protesters at the groundbreaking insisted that light rail would be both dangerous and a waste of money. Public opinion remained divided and businesses on Main Street in downtown Salt Lake City suffered during the construction period.
After the north-south line opened in late 1999 with sixteen stations, ridership expectations were quickly met. The system was enthusiastically embraced by valley residents, to the surprise of many, and once-skeptical communities soon began clamoring for extensions.
Funding for the University Line to Rice-Eccles Stadium
allowed it to be completed in 2001 with four new stations, ahead of schedule and the Olympics. An extension to the University Medical Center that added three new stations was completed on September 29, 2003, fifteen months ahead of schedule. An infill station at 900 South in Salt Lake City was constructed in 2005, and a second infill station, at 9400 South in Sandy
("Sandy Expo"), opened in August 2006. On December 13, 2006, the UTA Board of Trustees voted to change the name of the Delta Center Station to "Arena" in response to the renaming of the nearby indoor arena to EnergySolutions Arena
.
On February 23, 2006, plans for extending the main line westward to the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub
near the Gateway District
was approved. Two stations were built near the Gateway
shopping district, as well as one at the Salt Lake Central Station (Intermodal Hub). They opened in April 2008, bringing the total number of stations to 28.
on September 24, 2007 secured the remaining $500 million in funding for the light rail lines. This money will be used to finance the FrontLines 2015 expansion project, which will add four TRAX lines by 2015 (as well as an expansion to FrontRunner
commuter rail).
In 2008, construction began on two new extensions: one through West Valley City
(now part of the Green Line) and another through the southwest portion of the Salt Lake Valley (now part of the Red Line
). Both extensions were debuted in ceremonial openings on August 2, 2011, and permanently opened for regular service on August 7. Both extensions were completed ahead of schedule and under budget. This expansion was when UTA adopted color-code line names in place of their old destination-based line names.
A line from Salt Lake City International Airport
to the University of Utah was in the original plans for the system to be completed before the 2002 Winter Olympics, but funding shortages only allowed for the eastern portion to be constructed. The airport line did eventually come to fruition, however, and ground was broken on October 22, 2008. It will contain 6 additional stations, including a transfer station to the FrontRunner
commuter rail line. Completion of the six-mile (10 km) expansion is planned for 2012, but may take until 2013 to complete.
In order to support planned TRAX expansion, UTA ordered 77 Siemens S70 light rail vehicles from Siemens AG
. It is the company's largest-ever light rail contract.
On November 14, 2006, the Draper
City Council approved the Trax extension into that city. Neighbors in the area have continually fought the route suggested by UTA. The route follows an old rail line and UTA already owned the right of way. An alternative route that would run down the middle of State Street was also studied by UTA. Use of the UTA right of way for the line was challenged in court and was later approved by the Utah Supreme Court
on July 12, 2008. UTA has published a draft Environmental Impact Statement
for the new line that names the UTA right of way as the preferred route. Construction on the line, which will include three new stations, has begun and is expected to be completed by 2014.
, light rail, and a streetcar. The streetcar seemed to be the preferred alternative. On October 20, 2010, the Sugar House street car line received a $26 million federal grant that would allow the street car to be completed in less than two years. It will use an existing rail line running along 2200 South from the Central Pointe
TRAX station to approximately 1100 East, near the primary Sugar House shopping district.
UTA has also ordered a Draft Environment Study Report for transit alternatives in southern Davis County
, including more comprehensive bus service, streetcar lines, and a TRAX line. Some residents opposed UTA's proposal to bring rail to southern Davis County.
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
's Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
, serving Salt Lake City and several of its suburbs throughout Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County, Utah
Salt Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. It had a population of 1,029,655 at the 2010 census. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City, the state capital. It occupies Salt Lake Valley, as well as parts of the surrounding mountains, the Oquirrh Mountains to the west...
. The system is operated by the Utah Transit Authority
Utah Transit Authority
The Utah Transit Authority operates a public transportation system throughout the Wasatch Front of Utah, United States. It operates fixed route buses, express buses, ski buses, three light rail lines , and a commuter rail line from Salt Lake City to Pleasant View, north of Ogden. UTA is based in...
(UTA).
The first line, running from downtown Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
south to Sandy
Sandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
, was completed in 1999. The second line from downtown to the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
was completed in 2001 and extended in 2003. An extension to the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub
Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub
Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub is a multi-modal transportation hub located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Amtrak, the national regional rail system, provides one train daily in each direction on the California Zephyr: west to Emeryville, California and east to Chicago, Illinois...
was completed in April 2008. In August 2011, two extensions to South Jordan
South Jordan, Utah
South Jordan is a city in the U.S. state of Utah. The city lies in the Salt Lake Valley between the peaks of the Oquirrh Mountains and the peaks of the Wasatch Mountains and is part of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area...
and West Valley City
West Valley City, Utah
West Valley City is a city in Salt Lake County and a suburb of Salt Lake City in the U.S. state of Utah. The population was 129,480 at the 2010 census,...
were completed. Plans call for two additional TRAX extensions to Draper
Draper, Utah
Draper is a city in Salt Lake and Utah Counties in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Between 1990 and 2000 Draper was Utah's fastest-growing city over 5,000 people . Its population in 1990 was 7,143 and had grown to 25,220 by the 2000 census...
and the Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport is a major public airport in Utah. A joint civil-military facility, it is located in western Salt Lake City, approximately four miles from the central business district...
to be finished by 2014. The extensions to South Jordan, West Valley City, Draper and the airport were funded in part by a Salt Lake County sales tax increase that would pay for all four of the proposed TRAX lines. A letter of intent signed with the Federal Transit Administration
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
on September 24, 2007 secured the remaining funding for the light rail lines.
Both the University Line and its extension to the University Medical Center were completed ahead of schedule. Additional expansions have been proposed for the near future, all four of which have been approved and funded. A daily ridership of 15,000 was expected for the initial 15 miles (24.1 km) line in 1999. Soon after, the expanded system of 17.5 miles (28.2 km) was claimed to serve an estimated 60,000 passengers each day., though with an improved counting system, this was revised to 40,000. The American Public Transportation Association estimated second quarter 2011 ridership at 43,500, making it the tenth-busiest light rail system in the country The UTA predicts ridership will increase to 58,000 by the end of 2011, in part due to the completion of the West Valley and South Jordan extensions.
History
Light rail in the Salt Lake ValleySalt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
was first seriously discussed in the late 1980s to provide an alternative to traffic congestion on I-15, but the idea was met with much criticism. On October 10, 1988, Congress approved $5 million in funds to preserve land along the proposed light rail corridor. Funding for the light rail line itself, however, remained uncertain. After Salt Lake City won the bid for the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in 1995, UTA used the city's host status to accelerate obtaining funding through the Federal Transit Administration
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
(FTA). Construction began in 1997. Protesters at the groundbreaking insisted that light rail would be both dangerous and a waste of money. Public opinion remained divided and businesses on Main Street in downtown Salt Lake City suffered during the construction period.
After the north-south line opened in late 1999 with sixteen stations, ridership expectations were quickly met. The system was enthusiastically embraced by valley residents, to the surprise of many, and once-skeptical communities soon began clamoring for extensions.
Funding for the University Line to Rice-Eccles Stadium
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Rice-Eccles Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the campus of the University of Utah. It is the home field of the Utah Utes of the Pacific-12 Conference...
allowed it to be completed in 2001 with four new stations, ahead of schedule and the Olympics. An extension to the University Medical Center that added three new stations was completed on September 29, 2003, fifteen months ahead of schedule. An infill station at 900 South in Salt Lake City was constructed in 2005, and a second infill station, at 9400 South in Sandy
Sandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
("Sandy Expo"), opened in August 2006. On December 13, 2006, the UTA Board of Trustees voted to change the name of the Delta Center Station to "Arena" in response to the renaming of the nearby indoor arena to EnergySolutions Arena
EnergySolutions Arena
EnergySolutions Arena is an indoor arena, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, owned by Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc., the estate of Larry H. Miller...
.
On February 23, 2006, plans for extending the main line westward to the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub
Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub
Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub is a multi-modal transportation hub located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Amtrak, the national regional rail system, provides one train daily in each direction on the California Zephyr: west to Emeryville, California and east to Chicago, Illinois...
near the Gateway District
Gateway District
The Gateway District is a large open air retail, residential and office complex in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The complex is centered around the historic Union Pacific Depot in downtown Salt Lake City...
was approved. Two stations were built near the Gateway
Gateway District
The Gateway District is a large open air retail, residential and office complex in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The complex is centered around the historic Union Pacific Depot in downtown Salt Lake City...
shopping district, as well as one at the Salt Lake Central Station (Intermodal Hub). They opened in April 2008, bringing the total number of stations to 28.
FrontLines 2015
On September 21, 2006, a property tax hike proposal was replaced with a general transportation quarter-cent sales tax hike that was voted on and approved on November 7 of that year. On December 21, 2006, the Salt Lake County Council created a priority list for the sales tax, saying that Trax and commuter rail should take priority. A letter of intent signed with the Federal Transit AdministrationFederal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
on September 24, 2007 secured the remaining $500 million in funding for the light rail lines. This money will be used to finance the FrontLines 2015 expansion project, which will add four TRAX lines by 2015 (as well as an expansion to FrontRunner
FrontRunner
FrontRunner is a commuter rail system operated by the Utah Transit Authority , serving the northern portion of the Wasatch Front from Salt Lake Central Station to Ogden Union Station. The system opened 26 April 2008...
commuter rail).
In 2008, construction began on two new extensions: one through West Valley City
West Valley City, Utah
West Valley City is a city in Salt Lake County and a suburb of Salt Lake City in the U.S. state of Utah. The population was 129,480 at the 2010 census,...
(now part of the Green Line) and another through the southwest portion of the Salt Lake Valley (now part of the Red Line
Red Line (UTA Trax)
The Red Line is a light rail line in the Trax system in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah. It originally opened in December 2001 as the Sandy/University Line, running from the University of Utah to the city of Sandy, and was later rerouted to South Jordan and renamed the Red Line in August 2011...
). Both extensions were debuted in ceremonial openings on August 2, 2011, and permanently opened for regular service on August 7. Both extensions were completed ahead of schedule and under budget. This expansion was when UTA adopted color-code line names in place of their old destination-based line names.
A line from Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport is a major public airport in Utah. A joint civil-military facility, it is located in western Salt Lake City, approximately four miles from the central business district...
to the University of Utah was in the original plans for the system to be completed before the 2002 Winter Olympics, but funding shortages only allowed for the eastern portion to be constructed. The airport line did eventually come to fruition, however, and ground was broken on October 22, 2008. It will contain 6 additional stations, including a transfer station to the FrontRunner
FrontRunner
FrontRunner is a commuter rail system operated by the Utah Transit Authority , serving the northern portion of the Wasatch Front from Salt Lake Central Station to Ogden Union Station. The system opened 26 April 2008...
commuter rail line. Completion of the six-mile (10 km) expansion is planned for 2012, but may take until 2013 to complete.
In order to support planned TRAX expansion, UTA ordered 77 Siemens S70 light rail vehicles from Siemens AG
Siemens AG
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
. It is the company's largest-ever light rail contract.
On November 14, 2006, the Draper
Draper, Utah
Draper is a city in Salt Lake and Utah Counties in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Between 1990 and 2000 Draper was Utah's fastest-growing city over 5,000 people . Its population in 1990 was 7,143 and had grown to 25,220 by the 2000 census...
City Council approved the Trax extension into that city. Neighbors in the area have continually fought the route suggested by UTA. The route follows an old rail line and UTA already owned the right of way. An alternative route that would run down the middle of State Street was also studied by UTA. Use of the UTA right of way for the line was challenged in court and was later approved by the Utah Supreme Court
Utah Supreme Court
The Utah Supreme Court is the supreme court of the state of Utah, USA. It has final authority of interpretation of the Utah Constitution. The Utah Supreme Court is composed of five members: a chief justice, an associate chief justice, and three justices. All justices are appointed by the governor...
on July 12, 2008. UTA has published a draft Environmental Impact Statement
Environmental impact statement
An environmental impact statement , under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An EIS is a tool for decision making...
for the new line that names the UTA right of way as the preferred route. Construction on the line, which will include three new stations, has begun and is expected to be completed by 2014.
Planned expansion projects
A TRAX spur into the Salt Lake City neighborhood of Sugar House has been contemplated. A series of community meetings held in Sugar House as part of a larger transit study undertaken by UTA presented several transit alternatives to the neighborhood, including bus rapid transitBus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
, light rail, and a streetcar. The streetcar seemed to be the preferred alternative. On October 20, 2010, the Sugar House street car line received a $26 million federal grant that would allow the street car to be completed in less than two years. It will use an existing rail line running along 2200 South from the Central Pointe
Central Pointe (UTA station)
Central Pointe is a light rail station in South Salt Lake, Utah, serviced by all three lines of the Trax system. The station is located adjacent to a shopping center and the offices of the UTA Police Department at 2100 South, a major east-west corridor that marks the boundary between South Salt...
TRAX station to approximately 1100 East, near the primary Sugar House shopping district.
UTA has also ordered a Draft Environment Study Report for transit alternatives in southern Davis County
Davis County, Utah
Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2010 the population was 306,479, a 28.2% increase over the 2000 figure of 238,994. It was named for Daniel C. Davis, captain in the Mormon Battalion. The county is part of the Ogden–Clearfield Metropolitan Statistical Area as...
, including more comprehensive bus service, streetcar lines, and a TRAX line. Some residents opposed UTA's proposal to bring rail to southern Davis County.
Lines and stations
| Line | Opened (extensions) |
Stations | Length | Terminals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Line UTA Route 701 |
1999 (2008, 2014) |
21 2014: 24 |
18 miles (29 km) | Downtown Downtown Salt Lake City Downtown is the oldest district in Salt Lake City. The grid from which the entire city is laid out originates at Temple Square, the location of the Salt Lake Temple.-Location:... – Sandy Sandy, Utah Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah.... (Salt Lake Central Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub is a multi-modal transportation hub located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Amtrak, the national regional rail system, provides one train daily in each direction on the California Zephyr: west to Emeryville, California and east to Chicago, Illinois... – Sandy Civic Center Sandy Civic Center (UTA station) Sandy Civic Center is a light rail station in Sandy, Utah serviced by the Blue Line of the Trax system. It is currently the southern terminus of the Blue Line, but an extension to Draper is expected to be built by 2014... ) 2014: Downtown – Draper Draper, Utah Draper is a city in Salt Lake and Utah Counties in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Between 1990 and 2000 Draper was Utah's fastest-growing city over 5,000 people . Its population in 1990 was 7,143 and had grown to 25,220 by the 2000 census... (Salt Lake Central – Draper Town Center) |
|
| Red Line Red Line (UTA Trax) The Red Line is a light rail line in the Trax system in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah. It originally opened in December 2001 as the Sandy/University Line, running from the University of Utah to the city of Sandy, and was later rerouted to South Jordan and renamed the Red Line in August 2011... UTA Route 703 |
2001 (2003, 2011) |
25 | University of Utah University of Utah The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest... – Daybreak Daybreak Community Daybreak is a master-planned community over 4,000 acres in size being built by land development company Kennecott Land in South Jordan, Utah. Home construction began in 2004 and the community is expected to continue building for the next 18 to 20 years... (University Medical Center University Medical Center (UTA station) University Medical Center is a side platformed Trax light rail station in Salt Lake City, serving as the northern terminus of the Red Line. It is located on the campus of the University of Utah and is operated by the Utah Transit Authority.- Bus connections :... – Daybreak Parkway) |
||
| Green Line UTA Route 704 |
2011 (2013) |
15 2013: 18 |
Downtown – West Valley City West Valley City, Utah West Valley City is a city in Salt Lake County and a suburb of Salt Lake City in the U.S. state of Utah. The population was 129,480 at the 2010 census,... (Salt Lake Central – West Valley Central West Valley Intermodal Hub The West Valley Intermodal Hub is a transportation hub located in West Valley City, Utah. It serves the Green Line of the Trax light rail system, the Max bus rapid transit line, and local buses.- Construction and opening :... ) 2013: Airport Salt Lake City International Airport Salt Lake City International Airport is a major public airport in Utah. A joint civil-military facility, it is located in western Salt Lake City, approximately four miles from the central business district... – West Valley City (Airport – West Valley Central) |
See also
- List of tram and light-rail transit systems
- Transportation in Salt Lake CityTransportation in Salt Lake CityTransportation in Salt Lake City consists of a wide network of roads, an extensive bus system, a light rail system, and a recently introduced commuter rail line. Although Salt Lake City is a traditionally car-oriented city Transportation in Salt Lake City consists of a wide network of roads, an...
- FrontRunnerFrontRunnerFrontRunner is a commuter rail system operated by the Utah Transit Authority , serving the northern portion of the Wasatch Front from Salt Lake Central Station to Ogden Union Station. The system opened 26 April 2008...
- commuter railCommuter rail in North AmericaCommuter rail services in the United States, Canada, and Mexico provide common carrier passenger transportation along railway tracks, with scheduled service on fixed routes on a non-reservation basis primarily for short-distance travel between a central business district and adjacent suburbs and...
system - Sugar House StreetcarSugar House StreetcarThe Sugar House Streetcar is a planned streetcar service for the State of Utah that would connect Sugar House, a Salt Lake City neighborhood, and South Salt Lake. Of the estimated $55 million project cost, Salt Lake City has provided $2.5 million in funding, and applied for $35 million in federal...