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FrontRunner

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FrontRunner
Utah Transit Authority's commuter rail
A FrontRunner train heading toward Davis County
A FrontRunner train heading toward Davis County
Overview
OwnerUtah Transit Authority
LocaleWasatch Front
Transit typeCommuter Rail
Number of lines1 (UTA route 750)
Number of stations7 (16 after 10 December 2012)
Daily ridership5,900 (Q2 2012)[1]
WebsiteRideUTA.com
Operation
Began operation26 April 2008[2]
Operator(s)UTA
Reporting marksUTAX
Technical
System length44 miles (71 km) total[3]
88 miles (142 km) by December 2012
29.5 mi (47.5 km) single track
8.5 mi (13.7 km) double track[4][dead link]
No. of tracks1-2
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Top speed79 mph (127 km/h)
System map


A map of the entire UTA rail system by August 2013

The FrontRunner (reporting mark UTAX) is a commuter rail system operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) that serves the northern portion of the Wasatch Front from the Salt Lake Central Station to the Ogden Intermodal Transit Center. The system opened 26 April 2008. The southern extension—set to open 10 December 2012—will provide access south from Salt Lake City to Provo, via many Salt Lake City and Provo suburbs, doubling the length of the line to a total of 88 miles (142 km).

Route

FrontRunner runs south from Ogden (soon to be Pleasant View again on a limited basis), through Davis County, and into Salt Lake City, a total length of 44 miles (71 km). Work started on this section of the line in 2005. Seven of the planned eight stations opened to riders on 26 April 2008.[2]

The route uses a portion of the right-of-way of the historic Utah Central Railroad, built in 1869 to connect the First Transcontinental Railroad with Salt Lake City and acquired by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1878.[23] UTA-owned track parallels UP track until Ogden, where UP and UTA share the final 6 mi (9.7 km) of track to Pleasant View.

Most of the FrontRunner line is single-tracked (though it runs parallel to UP tracks), with double track at stations and several other points along the line to allow trains to pass each other. FrontRunner closely parallels Interstate 15 for most of the route.

There are about 25 round trips on weekdays between Salt Lake City and Ogden. Currently trains run hourly from about 4:30 am to just after midnight on weekdays (increasing to half hour runs for the morning and evening commutes). Saturdays have hourly runs from about 6:00 am to 1:30 am the next morning. There is currently no FrontRunner service on Sundays.[24]

Each station (except North Temple and Salt Lake Central) has a Park and Ride lot. There is no charge for parking in these lots and the number of parking spaces available at each station ranges from 235 to 874.[25]

Quiet Zone

The entire length of the FrontRunner corridor (including the southern extension) has been approved as a "Quiet Zone" by the Federal Railroad Administration. Essentially a Quiet Zone desigation eliminates the requirement for train operators to sound their horn when approaching each public crossing. However, for obvious safety reasons, they are not prohibited from sounding their horn, if appropriate. The Quiet Zone applies to all trains (including freight trains) with the same corridor. Each city along the route had to individually apply for the designation, but UTA provided substantial assistance with the process. Several safety upgrades must be in place at all public crossings in order to receive Quiet Zone approval. In addition to the normal automatic warning bells and lights, required upgrades include crossing guards, warning signs that trains do not blare horns in the area, and raised medians (which prevent cars from driving around lowered gates). There are also additional safety features for pedestrians. Prior to the southern extension, FrontRunner had the longest Quiet Zone in the nation--the southern extension will double the length of the existing Quiet Zone.[26][27]

Pleasant View

The station in Pleasant View was supposed to open along with the rest of the line in April 2008, but improvements to the shared stretch of track owned by Union Pacific were delayed when railroad workers were diverted to repair tracks damaged by a landslide near Oakridge, Oregon.[28] Only bus service was used between Ogden and Pleasant View until 29 September 2008, when the track improvements were complete.[3][29]

Union Pacific limited FrontRunner to one southbound train in the morning and one northbound in the evening after the Pleasant View station opened to rail traffic. Riders were required to transfer from one train to another in Ogden. In January 2009 this was increased to three trains for each morning and evening, with one running straight through in each direction, though the other two still required transfers between trains.[30]

Service to Pleasant View temporarily ended 6 September 2011. FrontRunner trains were able to run only four times daily to Pleasant View due to the sharing of track with Union Pacific; low ridership exacerbated the problem.[31] Limited weekday only commuter serivce to Pleasant View will resume 10 December 2012 with two train picking up passengers in the morning and and two trains dropping off passengers in the evening. However, no transfers between trains will be required, as was sometimes the case in the past. Nothwithstanding, service is supplementated by regular bus runs between Pleasant View and the Odgen Intermodal Transit Center for the morning and evening weekday commutes.[32]

FrontRunner South

44 miles (71 km) will be added to the FrontRunner line with the opening of the southern extension, which UTA refers to as FrontRunner South. The extension will expand the current southern terminus from the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub to Provo. Seven new stations have been constructed in Murray, South Jordan, Draper, Lehi, American Fork, Orem, and Provo, with one one more planned in Vineyard in the future.[33] The Utah Transit Authority began work on the line after a ground breaking ceremony on 12 August 2008 service will begin on the new section 10 December 2012.[34][35] Funds were appropriated to accommodate this project in 2006 via a sales tax increase referendum,[36] and the remaining funding was obtained through a letter of intent signed with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on 24 September 2007.

The city of Lehi is investigating options to build overpasses or underpasses to separate the rail traffic from the downtown vehicle traffic, though the status of this is uncertain as the cost of the project is in the tens of millions of dollars.[37]

At the same time FrontRunner South opens, a new infill station, North Temple, will begin service.

Brigham City to Nephi

Future extensions are envisioned that would eventually encompass over 135 miles (217 km) of the Wasatch Front, providing service as far north as Brigham City and as far south as Nephi.[38] As with all existing FrontRunner and TRAX stations, all future extensions of the FrontRunner line(s) will be integrated with UTA's bus system.

Equipment

FrontRunner runs 11 MPXpress (MP36PH-3C)[39][dead link] locomotives from Motive Power International of Boise, Idaho, 22 new bi-level Bombardier cars, and has recently repainted 25 refurbished ex-New Jersey Transit Comet Is[40] which entered service on 17 September 2008.[41] Thirty ex-Metra gallery cars were given to UTA free of charge, but they were determined to be in too poor condition to refurbish, and are being scrapped and used for spare parts for the Comet trains.[42][43]

Two months into service UTA began receiving complaints about the number of bicycles on the trains. The Bombardier cars were designed to hold two bicycles near the rear doors of each train, but up to 15 bicycles per car were reported by some riders.[44] UTA is investigating options to increase capacity for bicycles, including more lockers at the stations.

FrontRunner North is served by 20 Bombardier bi-level cars, and will soon be joined by 15 Comet Is, while FrontRunner South will start with eighteen Bombardier bi-level cars on order at a cost of $2.2 million each, and the remaining 10 refurbished Comets.[43]

Wireless internet, provided by Nomad Digital,[45] is available on all the FrontRunner cars, including the refurbished Comet trains[43] free of charge.[46]

File:FrontRunner Bombardier interior 1.jpg
Interior of a bi-level Bombardier coach
Upper level of a bi-level Bombardier coach
FrontRunner Fleet[47]
Model Image Manufactured Road Numbers Number in Fleet Notes
MPXpress MP36PH-3C locomotives 2007 1-11 11 Another locomotive, #12, was leased to Minnesota's Northstar Commuter Rail, and subsequently acquired by Northstar in June 2010.[48] MBTA Commuter Rail has plans to buy or lease up to nine of the locomotives.[49]
Bi-level Bombardier cabs 2006 101-112 12  
Bi-level Bombardier coaches 2007 201-208 8  
Comet I coaches 1971–1973 301-325 25 Refurbished by Bombardier Transportation before entering service. At least five coaches are in service with Metrolink[50] (coaches 302,[51] 309,[52] 315,[53] 317[54] & 320[55]).
Former FrontRunner Fleet
Model Image Manufactured Road Numbers Number in Fleet Notes
Pullman bi-level gallery coaches 1960–1968 (Metra) 8749[56] & others 30 Acquired from Metra at no charge, deemed to be in too poor shape to refurbish, being scrapped for parts for the Comet cars.[42]

Stations

County Municipality Station[3] Connections[3] Notes
UTA Bus UTA TRAX
Weber Pleasant View Pleasant View 616 Will resume limited service 10 December 2012[57]
Ogden Ogden Intermodal Transit Center 455, 456, 470, 473, 603, 604, 613, 616, 630, F618 Connection with Greyhound Lines bus service
Roy Roy 604, F628
Davis Clearfield Clearfield 470, 640, F628
Layton Layton 470, 477
Farmington Farmington 455, 456, 473
Woods Cross Woods Cross 460, 461, 463
Salt Lake Salt Lake City North Temple 6, 209, 500, 516, 520  704  Green Line (begins 14 April 2013) Service begins 10 December 2012
Salt Lake Central
(Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub) 		2, 2X, 3, 11, 200, 205, 218, 220, 500, 509, 513, 517, 519, 523, 550, 902  701  Blue Line
 704  Green Line (ends 9 December 2012)		 Connection with Amtrak California Zephyr
Connection with Greyhound Lines bus service
Murray Murray Central 54, 200, 201  701  Blue Line
 703  Red Line		 Service begins 10 December 2012
South Jordan South Jordan 218, 534, F514 Service begins 10 December 2012; routes 218 and F514 will facilitate connection between this station and Sandy Civic Center station on the Blue Line
Draper Draper F526 Service begins 10 December 2012
Utah Lehi Lehi 806, 807, 811, 853 Service begins 10 December 2012
American Fork American Fork 809, 850, F868 Service begins 10 December 2012
Vineyard Vineyard Planned station
Orem Orem 830, 831, 833, 842 Service begins 10 December 2012
Provo Provo 805, 821, 830, 831, 832, 833, 834, 836, 850 Service begins 10 December 2012
Connection with Amtrak California Zephyr

References

  1. ^ a b "Transit Ridership Report, Second Quarter 2012" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 14 Aug 2012. Retrieved 22 Oct 2012.
  2. ^ a b "UTA Announces FrontRunner Grand Opening Date!" (ASP) (Press release). Utah Transit Authority. 26 Mar 2008. Retrieved 18 Jul 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d "FrontRunner Fact Sheet" (PDF) (Press release). Utah Transit Authority. 1 Apr 2008. Retrieved 18 Jul 2008.
  4. ^ Petersen, Marty D. (1 Feb 2007). "FrontRunner on the front burner: Utah's new commuter rail system is expected to be a leading transportation option for the Salt Lake City region". FindArticles. Railway Age. Retrieved 3 Aug 2009.
  5. ^ Farver, Shane (1 Mar 2007). "FrontRunner announces rates". Ogden Standard-Examiner. Retrieved 3 Aug 2009.
  6. ^ "UTA's FrontRunner Service A Hit So Far, Crowds Show". KUTV. 28 Apr 2008. Retrieved 3 Aug 2009. [dead link]
  7. ^ Giauque, Marc (17 Jun 2008). "UTA sees increase in ridership". KSL.com. Retrieved 3 Aug 2009.
  8. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Third Quarter 2008" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 4 Dec 2008. Retrieved 4 Jan 2010.
  9. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Fourth Quarter 2008" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 5 Mar 2009. Retrieved 4 Jan 2010.
  10. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, First Quarter 2009" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 8 Jun 2009. Retrieved 4 Jan 2010.
  11. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Second Quarter 2009" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 21 Aug 2009. Retrieved 4 Jan 2010.
  12. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Third Quarter 2009" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 23 Nov 2009. Retrieved 4 Jan 2010.
  13. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Fourth Quarter 2009" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 2 Mar 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, First Quarter 2010" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 1 Jun 2010. Retrieved 21 Sep 2010.
  15. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Second Quarter 2010" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 9 Sep 2010. Retrieved 21 Sep 2010.
  16. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Third Quarter 2010" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 29 Nov 2010. Retrieved 7 Apr 2012.
  17. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Fourth Quarter 2010" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 8 Mar 2011. Retrieved 7 Apr 2012.
  18. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, First Quarter 2011" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 7 Apr 2012.
  19. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Second Quarter 2011" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 6 Dece 2011. Retrieved 21 Oct 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Third Quarter 2011" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 24 Aug 2011. Retrieved 7 Apr 2012.
  21. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Fourth Quarter 2011" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 24 Feb 2012. Retrieved 7 Apr 2012.
  22. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, First Quarter 2012" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 22 Oct 2012.
  23. ^ Don Strack, Ogden Rails (Union Pacific Historical Society), 2005, ISBN 1-932704-04-3
  24. ^ "Route 750". Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 19 Nov 2012.
  25. ^ "FrontRunner Park and Ride Lots" (Web). Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 19 Nov 2012.
  26. ^ "Horns may go silent on new FrontRunner route — despite safety push" (Web). The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 19 Nov 2012.
  27. ^ "Front Runner South FAQs" (Web). Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 19 Nov 2012.
  28. ^ "FrontRunner forced to delay Pleasant View terminal for months". KSL.com. AP. 13 Apr 2008. Retrieved 19 Nov 2012.
  29. ^ "FrontRunner begins hauling commuters from Pleasant View". KSL.com. Associated Press. 29 Sep 2008. Retrieved 29 Sep 2008.
  30. ^ "FrontRunner will increase its service to Pleasant View". Deseret News. Associated Press. 24 Jan 2009. Retrieved 5 Jan 2010.
  31. ^ "More bus riders in Pleasant View after FrontRunner service cuts". Standard-Examiner. 29 Sep 2011. Retrieved 21 Oct 2011.
  32. ^ "Route 616 - North Weber FrontRunner Shuttle". Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 20 Nov 2012.
  33. ^ UTA - FrontLines 2015: FrontRunner South
  34. ^ "UTA to Break Ground on FrontRunner South". Utah Transit Authority. 8 Aug 2008. Retrieved 9 Aug 2008.
  35. ^ UTA FrontRunner South Project Update." 2 Nov 2011.
  36. ^ Choate-Nielsen, Amy (20 Apr 2007). "FrontRunner is outpacing plans for I-15". Deseret Morning News. Retrieved 28 Jul 2008.
  37. ^ Allred, Cathy (10 Jul 2008). "Lehi looks into changes for railroad crossings". Daily Herald. Retrieved 28 Jul 2008.
  38. ^ Stryker, Ace (14 Jan 2009). "Utah County FrontRunner expansion on track". Daily Herald. Provo. Retrieved 24 Sep 2010.
  39. ^ Petersen, Marty D. (Feb 2007). "FrontRunner on the front burner: Utah's new commuter rail system is expected to be a leading transportation option for the Salt Lake City region". via FindArticles.com. Railway Age. Retrieved 19 Jul 2008.
  40. ^ Richards, Mary (1 July 2008). "FrontRunner getting '70s-era rail cars". KSL.com. Retrieved 19 Jul 2008.
  41. ^ Park, Shara (17 Sep 2008). "Comet cars added to FrontRunner". KSL.com. Retrieved 18 Sep 2008.
  42. ^ a b Fattah, Geoffrey (30 Jun 2004). "UTA gets 30 rail cars from Chicago — free". FindArticles. Deseret Morning News. Retrieved 20 Jul 2008.
  43. ^ a b c Loomis, Brandon. "UTA buys East Coast rail cars". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 20 Jul 2008.
  44. ^ Callan, Tom (26 Jun 2008). "Bicycles crowd out riders on commuter rail cars". KSL.com. Retrieved 19 Jul 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  45. ^ "Utah". FindArticles. Railway Age. 1 Jul 2008. Retrieved 3 Aug 2009.
  46. ^ "Internet to be available on public transportation". KSL.com. 8 Feb 2008. Retrieved 19 Jul 2008.
  47. ^ "FrontRunner Vehicles". Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 3 Aug 2009.
  48. ^ "Northstar to buy MP36 from Utah Transit Authority". Trains Magazine. 10 Jun 2010. Retrieved 10 Jun 2010.
  49. ^ "MBTA to acquire new locomotives". Trains Magazine. 3 Jun 2010. Retrieved 4 Jun 2010.
  50. ^ jim61773 (10 Jul 2009). "Metrolink train in Utah colors, Union Station". Flickr. Retrieved 6 Aug 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  51. ^ Ruaat, Sam (22 Jun 2009). "Metrolink 879". Flickr. Retrieved 5 Aug 2009.
  52. ^ SP8254 (12 Jun 2009). "Front Runner in So Cal". Flickr. Retrieved 6 Aug 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  53. ^ ksd73 (5 Jun 2009). "Utah Frontrunner on Metrolink". Flickr. Retrieved 6 Aug 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  54. ^ Non Paratus (15 May 2009). "That's a Long Commute from Utah!". Flickr. Retrieved 6 Aug 2009.
  55. ^ Vance, Steve (9 May 2009). "Donated Metra gallery cars in UTA's yard". flickr. Retrieved 6 Aug 2009.
  56. ^ http://www.letsrideuta.com/tag/frontrunner-south/
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