UTA TRAX

Infobox Public transit
name = UTA Transit Express (TRAX)


imagesize = 170px

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imagesize2 = 200px
locale = Salt Lake City metropolitan area
transit_type = Light rail
began_operation = December 1999
ended_operation =
system_length = mi to km|19|abbr=yes|precision=2|wiki=yes
(open lines)
lines = 2 operating
2 under construction
2 planned
vehicles = 40 Siemens SD-160 LRVs
29 UTDC
77 Avanto S70 (on order)cite news
title = Siemens announces biggest US light rail order | publisher = Railway Gazette International | date = 2008-05-15 | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2008/05/8445/siemens_announces_biggest_us_light_rail_order.html | accessdate = 2008-05-16 ]
stations = 28 open
13 under construction
ridership =
track_gauge = RailGauge|sg|al=on|lk=on
reporting marks =
operator = Utah Transit Authority
owner =

TRAX (full name Transit Expresscite news | title=UTA TRAX LightRail | publisher=Utah Rails | date=2007-01-06 | url=http://www.utahrails.net/uta/uta-trax.php | accessdate= 2007-08-19 ] , though rarely used) is a two-line light rail system in Utah's Salt Lake Valley, serving Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake, Murray, Midvale and Sandy. 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. Plans call for four additional TRAX lines to be finished by 2014. These lines are planned to run to the suburbs of West Valley City, South Jordan, and Draper, as well as to Salt Lake City International Airport.cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,695199123,00.html|title=UTA setting end dates on TRAX construction|date=2007-08-09|publisher=Deseret Morning News|accessdate=2008-06-02] On December 21, 2006, the Salt Lake County Council voted to impose a sales tax increase that would pay for all 4 of the proposed TRAX lines.cite news |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650217092,00.html |publisher=Deseret Morning News |last=Warburton |first=Nicole |title=Tax to build 3 rail lines, fix highway |date=2006-12-29 |accessdate=2008-06-03] A letter of intent signed with the Federal Transit Administration on September 24, 2007 secured the remaining funding for the light rail lines.cite news |title=UTA on track for U.S. funds |last=Warburton |first=Nicole |url=http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5620,695212929,00.html%3FprintView%3Dtrue |publisher=Deseret Morning News |date=2007-09-25 |accessdate=2008-06-03] ]

Despite initial skepticism, TRAX now enjoys widespread support.Fact|date=November 2007 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 mile (24 km) line in 1999. Soon after, the expanded system of 17.5 miles (28.2 km) served an estimated 60,000 passengers each day.cite news | last=Warburton | first=Nicole | title=Trax and taxes: Would expanded light rail be worth the price? | publisher=Deseret Morning News | date=2006-04-30 | url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635203047,00.html | accessdate= 2006-12-17 ] In the fall of 2005, the large number of passengers caused trains' suspensions to drop, preventing doors from closing properly; the problem has since been corrected.cite news | title=All aboard! | publisher=The Economist | date=2006-08-31 | url=http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7855218 | accessdate= 2006-12-17 ] An improved system of counting introduced in 2007 that used infrared sensors to track body heat showed that 60,000 was an overestimation, and the numbers were revised to approximately 40,000.cite news | title=New method of counting shows 'decline' in TRAX ridership | last=Warburton | first=Nicole | publisher=Deseret Morning News | date=2008-01-27 | url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695247585,00.html | accessdate= 2008-02-16 ]

History

Light rail in the Salt Lake Valley 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.cite news |publisher=Deseret Morning News |title=$5 million OK'd for light rail |date=1988-10-10] However, funding for the light rail line itself remained uncertain. After Salt Lake City won the bid for the 2002 Winter Olympics in 1995, UTA leveraged the city's host status to accelerate the process of obtaining funding through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Construction began in 1997, but the groundbreaking event was marred by protesters, who 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.

tation names

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. [cite news | title=UTA trustees OK nearly $239M budget | publisher=The Salt Lake Tribune | date=2006-12-14 | accessdate= 2006-12-17 ]

Expansion

After the north-south line opened in late 1999 with sixteen stations, ridership expectations were quickly met. To the surprise of many, the system was enthusiastically embraced by valley residents and once-skeptical communities soon began clamoring for extensions.

Completed expansion projects

University Line

Funding for the University Line to Rice-Eccles Stadium allowed it to be completed in 2001 with four new stations, ahead of schedule and in advance of 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.cite news |url= |last=Fattah |first=Geoffrey |publisher=Deseret Morning News |title=UTA extends TRAX line to U. med center |date=2003-09-30]

Infill stations

An infill station at 900 South in Salt Lake City was constructed in 2005, and a second infill station, at 9400 South in Sandy, opened in August 2006.

Extension to Salt Lake Central Station

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 The Gateway shopping district, as well as one at the Salt Lake Central Station (Intermodal Hub) and opened in April 2008, [ [http://www.rideuta.com/projects/saltLakeInterHub/default.aspx Projects/Programs ] ] bringing the total number of stations to 28.

Expansion projects currently under construction

Mid-Jordan Line

On July 7, 2005, the Mid-Jordan Line was approved, and construction began on May 15, 2008. It is expected to be completed in 2011. [cite news
title = Construction begins on Mid-Jordan TRAX line
publisher = KSL.com
date = 2008-05-15
url = http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=3313081
accessdate = 2008-05-16 ] This line will branch off from the Sandy Line in Murray, crossing into Midvale, West Jordan, and ending at the Daybreak Community in South Jordan. UTA explored the option of a street-running route through historic Midvale and serving the Jordan Landing development before reaching the Daybreak Community; however, a route using an existing rail corridor was selected, which has a lower cost and allows a simpler environmental review and construction process. Current plans call for nine new stations on the line.

West Valley City Line

On June 18, 2008, UTA began construction on a line to a new West Valley City Intermodal hub, adding four stations to TRAX, splitting off from the Central Pointe station. The line is expected to open by 2011. [cite news
title = UTA breaks ground on West Valley TRAX line | first = Amanda | last = Butterfield | publisher = KSL.com | date = 2008-06-18 | url = http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3562918 | accessdate = 2008-06-19] The line will serve the Chesterfield and Decker Lake areas before stopping at the E Center and terminating at an intermodal hub in West Valley City.

Planned expansion projects

On November 14, 2006, the Draper City Council approved the TRAX extension into that city [cite news | last=Nielson-Stowell | first=Amelia | title=Draper approves TRAX route | publisher=Deseret Morning News | date=2006-11-15 | url=http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650207349,00.html | accessdate= 2006-12-17 ] . 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. The decision was challenged in court and was later approved by the Utah Supreme Court on July 12, 2008.cite web |url=http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3747659 |title=Court says Draper TRAX route OK |accessdate=2008-07-12 |publisher=KSL.com via AP |date=2008-07-12 ]

An extension to the Salt Lake International Airport is expected to begin construction in late 2008. [http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3946874]

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 transit, light rail, and an old-fashioned streetcar either along 2100 South or along an existing rail corridor running along approximately 2200 South from the existing TRAX station to 1100 East, very near the neighborhood center and primary commercial district of the Sugar House neighborhood. [ [http://www.utabus.com/projects/sugarhouseTransitStudy/overview.aspx UTA - Sugar House Transit Study] ] The streetcar seemed to be the preferred alternative. [ [http://www.utabus.com/files/071207OpenHouseSummary.pdf Sugar House transit corridor open house summary] , July 12, 2007.]

Additional vehicle purchase

In order to support planned TRAX expansion, UTA has ordered 77 Avanto light rail vehicles from Siemens AG. It is the company's largest-ever light rail contract.

Funding

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.cite news | last=Warburton | first=Nicole | coauthors=Dethman, Leigh | title=Tax to build 3 rail lines, fix highway| publisher=Deseret Morning News | date=2006-12-21 | url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650217092,00.html | accessdate= 2007-01-01 ] A letter of intent signed with the Federal Transit Administration on September 24, 2007 secured the remaining $500 million in funding for the light rail lines.

Lines and stations

The University line also runs a few trains in the AM commute and the PM commute to the Sandy Civic Center station, following the routing of the Sandy/Salt Lake line, by turning towards Courthouse instead of Gallivan Plaza. [ [http://rideuta.com/ridingUTA/viewSchedule.aspx?abbreviation=703&dir=0&service=4&signup=73&pdaView=False Route 703 - Sandy/University] ]

ee also

*List of rapid transit systems
*Transportation in Salt Lake City
*UTA TRAX Sandy/Salt Lake Line
*UTA TRAX University Line
*FrontRunner - the recently opened commuter rail system

References

External links

* [http://www.rideuta.com/ Utah Transit Authority]
* [http://www.utahrails.net/uta/uta-trax.php Utah Rails, timeline of UTA TRAX project]