Blue Line (TRAX)

Blue Line
File:UTA Trax logo.svg
Train on the Blue Line at the Gallivan Plaza stop in Downtown Salt Lake City headed towards Sandy
Overview
Status	operating
Owner	Utah Transit Authority (UTA)
Locale	Wasatch Front
Termini	Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub (Salt Lake Central) Sandy Civic Center Draper Town Center by August 2013
Stations	21
Service
Type	Light rail
System	TRAX (light rail)
Route number	703
Operator(s)	UTA
Rolling stock	Typical: Siemens SD-100 and SD160 vehicles
History
Opened	4 December 1999
Technical
Line length	Original (1999): 15 mi (24 km) Current (2009): 16 mi (26 km)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Operating speed	Maximum: 55 mph (89 km/h)
Route map A map of the entire UTA rail system by August 2013

The Blue Line is a light rail line on the TRAX system in the Salt Lake Valley of Utah, United States operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). It is the first line of the TRAX system completed. The line opened on 4 December 1999, one year ahead of schedule after two years of construction. In addition to Salt Lake City, it also serves the communities of South Salt Lake, Murray, Midvale, and Sandy. The line was known as the North/South Line or the Sandy/Salt Lake Line until color names were adopted for each TRAX line in August 2011. An extension of the line to Draper is nearly completed and expected to begin service in August 2013.

Route

The TRAX Blue Line is designated as UTA Route 701.

The Blue Line starts at Sandy Civic Center in Sandy. This station is several blocks east of Sandy City Hall and the South Towne Center Mall. The Porter Rockwell Trail (Sandy Rail Trail) runs by the east side of this station and, as the trail heads north, it crosses over to the west of the Blue Line tracks at 10000 South/9800 South and then runs north parallel to the Blue Line until it ends at 8530 South. From Sandy Civic Center, the Blue Line heads north, crossing 10000 South/9800 South (Sego Lily Drive) and, while running along the west side of 170 East, passing the east side of both Jordan High School and the South Towne Exposition Center. Just after crossing 9400 South the Blue Line reaches an infill station, Sandy Expo, which provides service to Rio Tinto Stadium in addition to the South Towne Exposition Center.

After Sandy Expo, the Blue Line continues north on the east side of 150 East until it crosses 9000 South (SR-209). Then it crosses over the East Jordan Canal and immediately reaches Historic Sandy. Following Historic Sandy, 150 East (Center Street) once again parallels the west side of the Blue Line until that road ends at 8530 South. As the Blue Line continues north it crosses 8800 South, 8720 South, 8680 South, and 8530 South. From 8800 South north to 8530 South a thin strip of a park (Sandy Station Park), fits between the Blue Line and 150 East (Center Street). Beginning at 8680 South, 160 East also runs along the east side of the Blue Line until just after 8500 South. Just north of 8500 South the road still continues north along the east side of the tracks until it reaches 8000 South, but is now designated 150 East. At about 8400 South, as the Blue Line leaves Sandy and enters Midvale, it begins to curve to the northwest as it crosses 8000 South and then immediately over the Jordan Salt Lake City Canal before reaching State Street (US Route 89).

After crossing over State Street, but just south of 7720 South (Center Street), the Blue Line reaches Midvale Center. From that station it continues northwest, crossing 7720 South and 7500 South (6th Avenue), and then curves back toward the north until it reaches Midvale Fort Union, just south of 7200 South. After crossing 7200 South it heads directly north (passing from Midvale into Murray) until it reaches the junction with the TRAX Red Line, which is immediately south of Winchester Drive. The previous station for the Red Line is Bingham Junction, having started in the Daybreak community of South Jordan. (The Red Line also provides access to UTA's Lovendahl Rail Service Center which is located just west of I-15.) Just after the junction the two Lines cross Winchester Drive and immediately reach Fashion Place West.

From Fashion Place West, the Blue and Red Lines continue north on the east side of 300 West (Cottonwood Street) as they cross over I-215 and then cross 6100 South and 5900 South. Just prior to crossing over 5400 South (SR-173/Spartan Street), the Lines curve slightly to the east as they cross under Cottonwood Street (which curves more sharply to the east). At about 5150 South, the Lines reach Murray Central. This station is located just west of the Intermountain Medical Center. It is one of only three joint TRAX/FrontRunner stations and one of two serviced by the Blue Line. The FrontRunner platform is located directly west of the TRAX platform. (FrontRunner provides commuter rail service between Pleasant View in north Weber County through Davis County and Salt Lake County to Provo in central Utah County.)

Heading north and slightly to the east from Murray Central, the Blue and Red Lines cross Vine Street (5090 South) and over Little Cottonwood Creek before continuing directly north as they cross 4800 South and the 4500 South Frontage Road. After crossing over 4500 South (SR-266) the Lines reach Murray North at about 4400 South. After crossing Fireclay Avenue the Lines curve slightly to the west as they continue north and cross over Big Cottonwood Creek. Upon crossing over Big Cottonwood Creeek, the Lines also leave Murray and briefly enter unincorporated Salt Lake County. Continuing north and slightly to the west, the Lines cross Central Avenue and then 3900 South. At 3900 South the lines leave unincorporated Salt Lake County and enter South Salt Lake. Immediately north of 3900 South is Meadowbrook. From this station the Lines head directly north until they cross 3300 South (SR-171) and immediately reach Millcreek. Continuing north from Millcreek the Lines cross Gregson Avenue, 2950 South, and 2700 South, before crossing under I-80.

From I-80 the Lines continue north and cross Haven Avenue before junction with the TRAX Green Line. The previous station for the Green Line is River Trail, having originated in West Valley City. Just after the junction all three Lines head north and reach Central Pointe, which is just south of 2100 South (SR-201). Central Pointe will be the connection with the Sugar House Streetcar once it's initial phase is completed in late 2013. The Sugar House Steetcar platform will be just southeast of the TRAX platform.

Upon crossing 2100 South the three Lines leave South Salt Lane and enter Salt Lake City and continue north as they cross 1700 South and 1300 South. Just north of 1300 South is Ball Park, which provides service to the Spring Mobile Ballpark. (Immediately north of this station is a non-revenue track that extends northwest to 400 West at 900 South and then north to 600 South.) After Ball Park the three Lines continue north in the center median of 200 West, crossing under the 900 South/I-15 on and off ramps, until they reach the next station, 900 South. This station, which is just north of 900 South, is aninfill station and the last stop before the TRAX lines reach Downtown Salt Lake City.

The three Lines continue north in the median of 200 West, crossing 800 South, until they reach 700 South. At 700 South they turn east and proceed down the middle of that street for two blocks, crossing West Temple Street (SR-270). At Main Street, the Lines turn north and continue down the center median of that street and cross 600 South (Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard/SR-269 eastbound), pass between the Grand America Hotel and the Little America Hotel, and then cross 500 South (Cesar E Chavez Boulevard/SR-269 westbound). Just north of 500 South and slightly west of the Scott Matheson Courthouse, is the first station within the Free Fare Zone, Courthouse. At 400 South (University Boulevard/US Highway 89) the Red Line turns east and heads toward Library and eventually the University of Utah while the Green and Blue Lines continue north. After crossing 300 South (Broadway) the two Lines reach Gallivan Plaza, which is just west of the Wells Fargo Center and the Gallivan Center.

Continuing in the median of Main Street, the Green and Blue Lines continue north crossing 200 South and 100 South before reaching City Center. This station is in the middle of the new City Creek Center commercial and residential development. At the north end of Main Street the two Lines turn west down the middle of South Temple Street for a little more than a block before reaching the next station, Temple Square. This station is just southwest of Temple Square (home to the Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake Tabernacle, and other notable buildings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). It is also just south of the Family History Library, about two blocks south of the LDS Conference Center, and immediately north of Abravanel Hall and the Salt Palace.

Continuing down the center of South Temple Street the Lines reach Arena (formerly Delta Center). This station is immediately north of the EnergySolutions Arena, east of the Union Pacific Depot, and south of LDS Business College. Arena was formerly the terminus of both the Sandy/Salt Lake and the old University Line. However, an extension opened on 16 April 2008 which provided access to the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub and the new FrontRunner commuter rail system. Eventually the Sandy/Salt Lake Line was renamed the Blue Line and the University Line was renamed the Red Line and routed south. About this same time the Green Line was created and its route continued, along with the Blue Line, on to Salt Lake Central (Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub). However, with the rerouting of the Green Line to accommodate the Airport Extension, Arena became the temporary terminus of the Green Line from 9 December 2012 to 13 April 2013.

Following Arena, the two Lines continue on to 400 West where they divide paths. The Green Line turns north down the middle of 400 West towards North Temple Bridge/Guadalupe and eventually ending at the Salt Lake International Airport, while the Blue Line turns south. Heading down the median of 400 West, just after crossing 100 South once again, it reaches Planetarium, which provides access to the Clark Planetarium as well as the rest of the Gateway Mall. At 200 South, the Blue Line turns west again and continues down the median of that street. Just after crossing 500 West it reaches Old Greek Town. After that station, it turns south again, heading down the middle of 600 West to 300 South. At the intersection of 600 West and 300 South, it shifts from the median to the west side of the street where it immediately reaches the last station on the Blue Line, Salt Lake Central (Salt Lake Intermodal Hub). From 23 August 2009 to 31 October 2009, the terminus was truncated to Arena station. Salt Lake Central provides access to FrontRunner, as well as the Amtrak's California Zephyr, and Greyhound Lines.

Park and Ride

Many TRAX stations include free Park and Ride lots, with some lots having as few as six parking spaces and others having nearly 1200. However, there are certain restrictions for all lots (for example, no 24 hour parking).

Free Fare Zone

UTA currently has a Free Fare Zone in Downtown Salt Lake City for transportation patrons that both enter and exit bus or TRAX service within the Zone. The Zone covers an area of approximately thirty-six city blocks and the boundaries are roughly North Temple, 200 East, 500 South, and 400 West. TRAX stations within the Zone include Arena, City Center, Courthouse, Gallivan Plaza (mistakenly identified as "Gallivan Center Station" on the Free Fare Zone map), Planetarium, and Temple Square. In addition, the Free Fare Zone also includes the area of the State Capitol (north to 500 North), the bus stops on 400 South between 200 East and 300 East, and three additional TRAX stations: Library, Old GreekTown, and Salt Lake Central. In June 2012 UTA revealed plans to eliminate the Free Fare Zone, but by September 2012 it announced that it would continue the Zone, but with some minor adjustments, including when and how fares are collected.

Stations

TRAX Blue Line (Salt Lake–Sandy)
Station Name	Opening Year	Municipality	Park and Ride	Free Fare Zone	Notes
Northern end of the line
Salt Lake Central (Salt Lake Intermodal Hub)	2008	Salt Lake City	No	Yes	Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub Transfer to FrontRunner, Amtrak (California Zephyr route), and Greyhound Lines
Old GreekTown					Serving local businesses
Planetarium					Serving Clark Planetarium and the Gateway Mall
Arena	1999				Serving Energy Solutions Arena Transfer to Green Line
Temple Square					Serving Abravanel Hall and Temple Square Transfer to Green Line
City Center					Serving City Creek Center Transfer to Green Line
Gallivan Plaza					Serving the Gallivan Plaza Transfer to Green Line
Courthouse					Serving the Federal Courthouse and Third District Courthouse Transfer to Green Line and Red Line
900 South	2005			No	Transfer to Green Line and Red Line
Ball Park	1999		Yes		Serving Spring Mobile Ballpark Transfer to Green Line and Red Line
Central Pointe		South Salt Lake			Transfer to Green Line and Red Line Future transfer to Sugar House Streetcar (late 2013)
Millcreek					Transfer to Red Line and MAX bus rapid transit line
Meadowbrook					Transfer to Red Line
Murray North		Murray			Transfer to Red Line
Murray Central					Serving the Intermountain Medical Center Transfer to Red Line and FrontRunner
Fashion Place West					Transfer to Red Line
Midvale Fort Union		Midvale
Midvale Center
Historic Sandy		Sandy
Sandy Expo	2006				Serving South Towne Exposition Center and Rio Tinto Stadium.
Sandy Civic Center	1999				Serving South Towne Center and Jordan High School.
Current southern end of the line (Continuing to Crescent View in August 2013)

Draper extension

An extension of the Blue Line to Draper is scheduled to open in August 2013. Construction on the extension began in 2010 as part of UTA's FrontLines 2015 project, which also includes the West Valley section of the Green Line, the Mid-Jordan extension of the Red Line, and the southern extension of the FrontRunner commuter rail line. The Draper extension will continue south from Sandy Civic Center Station Station to Crescent View at about 11400 South, Kimballs Lane at about 11800 South, and finally Draper Town Center on Pioneer Road (12400 South). This extension is expected to open in August 2013. Eventually, two more yet to be finalized stations are planned for further on down the line, one on Highland Drive at about 13800 South and the other on 14600 South just east of I-15.

Additional stations
Station	Phase	Opening Year	Municipality	Park and Ride	Free Fare Zone	Notes
From Sandy Civic Center
Crescent View	Phase 1	2013 (planned)	Sandy	Planned	No	Serving local neighborhoods.
Kimballs Lane			Draper			Serving local neighborhoods and Juan Diego Catholic High School.
Draper Town Center						Near Draper City Hall and Draper Historic Park.
Highland Drive	Phase 2	Planned (no scheduled date)
14600 South						Near I-15
Southern end of the line

See also

• List of rapid transit systems
• Transportation in Salt Lake City
• TRAX (light rail)
• TRAX Red Line
• TRAX Green Line
• FrontRunner
• UTA MAX
• Sugar House Streetcar

External links

• UTA official website
• UTA TRAX
• Utah Rails, timeline of UTA Trax project