Red Line (TRAX)

Red Line
File:UTA Trax logo.svg
Red Line Train at Fort Douglas headed for Daybreak
Overview
Status	operating
Owner	Utah Transit Authority (UTA)
Locale	Wasatch Front
Termini	University Medical Center Daybreak Parkway
Stations	25
Service
Type	Light rail
System	UTA TRAX
Route number	703
Operator(s)	UTA
History
Opened	15 December 2001
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Route map A map of the entire UTA rail system by August 2013

For the previously designated TRAX line that operated only between Salt Lake Central and the University of Utah via downtown until August 2011, see University Line.

The Red 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 originally began operation in December 2001 as the peak-hour-only Sandy/University Line, running from the University of Utah south to the city of Sandy. It was later rerouted to South Jordan and renamed the Red Line in August 2011, running as an all-day route. The current line runs from the University of Utah through Downtown Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake, Murray, Midvale, West Jordan, and South Jordan to Daybreak.

History

The 703 route number was first used by the Sandy/University Line, also known as the Murray/Midvale/University Line, which opened on 15 December 2001 along with the University Line. The original line from the University to Sandy ran only twice a day during commute hours, while the University Line ran regularly. The southern end of the line was discontinued on 1 May 2011, leaving Fashion Place West in Murray as the new southern terminus; the line was briefly renamed the Murray–University Line to reflect the change. On 7 August 2011, UTA switched to a color-based naming system and the Murray–University Line became the Red Line. That day also marked the opening of the Mid-Jordan extension, running from Fashion Place West through Midvale and West Jordan to the Daybreak development in South Jordan. Nine new stations and over 10 miles of rail were constructed for this extension at an estimated cost of $452 million.

Route

The TRAX Red Line is designated as UTA Route 703.

The Red Line begins at Daybreak Parkway, which located in the middle of Grandville Avenue, north of Daybreak Parkway and west of the new Mountain View Corridor (SR-85) at about 5200 West and 11400 South in the Daybreak Community of South Jordan. It heads northwest, remaining in the middle of Grandville Avenue, until it reaches about 5600 West and 10900 South, at which point Grandville Avenue (now 5200 West) heads north. Shortly thereafter, it reaches the next station, South Jordan Parkway. Continuing north, it crosses over Bingham Creek and then leaves the Daybreak Community and South Jordan and enters West Jordan just before reaching the next station 5600 West Old Bingham Highway. It then heads northwest just south of and paralleling Old Bingham Highway. After crossing 5200 West and 4800 West, it immediately reaches the next station, 4800 West Old Bingham Highway. Continuing northeast and still paralleling Old Bingham Highway, it crosses Wasatch Meadows Drive, 9000 South (with the Provo Reservoir Canal running under this crossing), and 4000 West.

After crossing over Bangeter Highway (SR-154), it continues on its northeastern course. Just after Old Bingham Highway heads directly north the Red Line reaches Jordan Valley. Briefly before and after Jordan Valley the parallel roadway on the north side is 8600 South (which runs from Old Bingham Highway to 3200 West). After crossing 3200 West, the Red Line no longer follows a roadway right-of-way, but maintains its northeastern course. After crossing the Utah and Salt Lake Canal Trail, it crosses 2700 West and reaches the next station 2700 West Sugar Factory Road. Maintaining its northeastern course, the Red Line runs north of, but parallel to, Sugar Factory Road (8250 South) as it crosses over the South Jordan Canal and then immediately crosses 2200 West. Thereafter, it continues northeast, while Sugar Factory Road heads due east. After crossing Readwood Road (1700 West/SR-68), it reaches West Jordan City Center. Briefly before and after West Jordan City Center the parallel roadway on the south side is 8045 South (which runs from 1650 West to 1500 West). The West Jordan City Hall, West Jordan court building, and Jordan School District office building are northwest and north of this station.

From 1500 West, the Red Line maintains is northeastern course as it crosses 1300 West and then passes south of the West Jordan City Cemetery before reaching Historic Gardner. This station is located just south of Gardner Village. From the Historic Gardner, it heads north crossing over the North Jordan Canal and then over 7800 South. It then briefly runs along the west side of, but parallel to, the Jordan River Parkway (and trail) and the Jordan River. It then heads east and crosses over the Jordan River (leaving West Jordan and entering Midvale) before crossing Bingham Junction Boulevard and reaching Bingham Junction. It then crosses over 700 West before turning north and crossing 7300 South. Continuing north it crosses over 7200 South and then crosses 6960 South before passing by the west side of the UTA's Lovendahl Rail Service Center and heading northeast under the southbound on ramp from I-215 to I-15 and then I-15 itself (leaving Midvale and entering Murray). The Red Line then crosses under the Union Pacific and FrontRunner tracks and under the the I-15 northbound off ramps to I-215. (In railway terminology the Red Line's crossing under the Union Pacific and FrontRunner tracks is referred to as a flying junction.) It then crosses Cottonwood Street before heading north at the junction with the TRAX Blue Line. The previous station for the Blue Line is Midvale Fort Union, having started in Sandy. Just after the junction the two Lines cross Winchester Drive and immediately reach Fashion Place West.

From Fashion Place West, the Red and Blue 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 the only one serviced by the Red 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 Red and Blue 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 I-15/900 South on and off ramps, until they reach the next station, 900 South. This station, which is just north of 900 South, is an infill 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 while the Green and Blue Lines continue north to Gallivan Plaza, with the Blue Line ending at Salt Lake Central in Downtown Salt Lake City and the Green Line ending at Arena (but continuing on to the Salt Lake International Airport in April 2013).

After turning east onto 400 South, the Red Line continues down the middle of that street, passing the Frank E. Moss United States Courthouse on the south before crossing State Street (US Highway 89). After passing the Salt Lake City and County Building on the south it crosses 200 East and reaches Library, which is just north of the Salt Lake City Public Library. Library is the last station on the Red Line that is within the Free Fare Zone. Continuing in the median of 400 South, it crosses 300 East, 400 East, 500 East, and 600 East before reaching Trolley. After crossing 700 East and 800 East, but just before crossing 900 East is the next station, 900 East. Continuing in the median of the street, the Red Line heads east, but does a jog to the south as University Boulevard heads south at 1000 East and then east again at 500 South. (This jog to the south is also where the Red Line ascends the east bench.) Continuing east in the median of 500 South, it crosses 1100 East and 1300 East before reaching the University of Utah campus.

The Red Line then turns north to briefly run along the east side of University Street. Just after turning north, it reaches Stadium, which is just west of the Rice-Eccles Stadium. It then turns east at South Campus Drive (400 South) and briefly runs along the south side of that street. As South Campus Drive does a slight jog to the north (around the north end of the Rice-Eccles Stadium), the Red Line shifts from the south side of the street to the median. After passing the stadium and crossing 1500 East, it heads southeast, crossing through the roundabout at the north end of Campus Center Drive. Remaining in the median of the street, it then passes the Utah Museum of Fine Art on the north and crosses 1725 East (Campus Center Drive/Research Road) and heads northeast until it reaches University South Campus, which is just west of 1800 East.

After crossing 1800 East, the Red Line continues northeast in the median of South Campus Drive until it reaches the end of that road at Mario Capecchi Drive. It then turns north and follows along the west side of Mario Capecchi Drive (1900 East, formerly Medical Center Drive) until it reaches Fort Douglas at about 200 South. After Fort Douglas, it continues along the west side of Mario Capecchi Drive as it ascends a bit more and briefly heads northeast and then northwest. At about 10 North 1900 East is the last station on the Red Line, University Medical Center. It is immediately south of Primary Children's Medical Center and southeast of the multiple buildings on the campus of University of Utah Medical Center.

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). The only parking for which UTA charges is the parking garage at the Jordan Valley TRAX Station in West Jordan (which is on the Red Line). The cost is $1 per day or $15 per month, however, payment is only required for parking from 6 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday, except holidays.

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 Red Line (University of Utah–South Jordan)
Station Name	Opening Year	Municipality	UTA Rail Connections	Park and Ride Lot	Free Fare Zone	Notes & Other Connections
Northeastern end of the line
University Medical Center	2003	Salt Lake City		No	No	Serving University of Utah Medical Center and Primary Children's Medical Center
Fort Douglas
University South Campus
Stadium	2001					Serving Rice-Eccles Stadium
900 East
Trolley						Serving Trolley Square
Library					Yes
Courthouse	1999		701  TRAX Blue Line  704  TRAX Green Line			Serving the Federal Courthouse and Third District Courthouse
900 South	2005		701  TRAX Blue Line  704  TRAX Green Line		No
Ball Park	1999		701  TRAX Blue Line  704  TRAX Green Line	Yes		Serving Spring Mobile Ballpark
Central Pointe		South Salt Lake	701  TRAX Blue Line  704  TRAX Green Line			Future transfer to Sugar House Streetcar (late 2013)
Millcreek			701  TRAX Blue Line			Transfer to MAX bus rapid transit line.
Meadowbrook			701  TRAX Blue Line
Murray North		Murray	701  TRAX Blue Line
Murray Central			701  TRAX Blue Line  750  FrontRunner			Serving the Intermountain Medical Center
Fashion Place West			701  TRAX Blue Line
Bingham Junction	2011	Midvale
Historic Gardner		West Jordan
West Jordan City Center
2700 West Sugar Factory Road
Jordan Valley
4800 West Old Bingham Highway
5600 West Old Bingham Highway
South Jordan Parkway		South Jordan				Serving northern Daybreak Community
Daybreak Parkway						Serving southern Daybreak Community
Southwestern end of the line

See also

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

External links

• Utah Transit Authority
• UTA TRAX
• Utah Rails, timeline of UTA Trax project