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TRAX (light rail)

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Transit Express (TRAX)
Utah Transit Authority's light rail
TRAX train at Gallivan Plaza
TRAX train at Gallivan Plaza
Overview
LocaleSalt Lake City metropolitan area
Transit typeLight rail
Number of lines3
Number of stations41 open
9 nearing completion
2 planned
Daily ridership56,900[1]
Operation
Began operation4 December 1999
Operator(s)Utah Transit Authority
Number of vehicles23 Siemens SD-100 LRVs[2]
17 Siemens SD-160 LRVs[2]
29 UTDC (former Santa Clara VTA cars)[2]
77 Siemens S70[3]
Technical
System length35.3 mi (56.8 km)[4]
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC, Overhead lines
System map


A map of the entire UTA rail system by August 2013

Legend
Green Line
Airport  704 
Salt Lake City
International Airport
1940 W North Temple
Power
 750 
FrontRunner
to Ogden
Fairpark
Jackson/Euclid
North Temple Bridge
/Guadalupe
California Zephyr
to Emeryville, California
Red Line
Planetarium
 702†  703 
University
Medical Center
Old GreekTown
Fort Douglas
US Passenger rail transport
Salt Lake
Central
 701  702† 
University South Campus
Arena
Stadium
Temple Square
900 East
City Center
Trolley
Gallivan Plaza
Library
 Free Fare Zone 
 Courthouse
600 South
900 South
Ballpark
Central Pointe
Green Line
S Line
to Fairmont
in Sugar House
River Trail
Millcreek
Redwood Junction
Meadowbrook
Decker Lake
Murray North
West Valley Central  704 
Murray Central
Fashion Place West
Red Line
Bingham Junction
Blue Line
Historic Gardner
Midvale Fort Union
West Jordan City Center
Midvale Center
2700 W Sugar Factory Rd
Historic Sandy
Jordan Valley
Sandy Expo
4800 W Old Bingham Hwy
Sandy Civic Center
5600 W Old Bingham Hwy
Crescent View
South Jordan Parkway
Kimballs Lane
Daybreak Parkway  703 
 701  Draper Town Center
California Zephyr
to Chicago, Illinois
 750 
FrontRunner
to Provo
†  702  no longer operates
Handicapped/disabled access All stations are accessible

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. Its full official name is Transit Express,[5] though this name is very rarely used. The system is operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). All TRAX trains are powered by overhead electrical wires.[6]

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.[7] Plans call for two additional TRAX extensions to the Salt Lake City International Airport (to open 14 April 2013) and Draper (to open August 2013).[8] 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 extensions.[9] A letter of intent signed with the Federal Transit Administration on 24 September 2007 secured the remaining funding for the light rail lines.[10]

Both the University Line and its extension to the University Medical Center were completed ahead of schedule. A daily ridership of 15,000 was expected for the initial 15-mile (24 km) line in 1999. By the beginning of 2008, the expanded system of 17.5 miles (28.2 km) was served an estimated 40,000 passengers each day.[11] The American Public Transportation Association estimated third quarter 2012 ridership at 56,900, making it the ninth-busiest light rail system in the country.[1]

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 10 October 1988, Congress approved $5 million in funds to preserve land along the proposed light rail corridor.[12] 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 29 September 2003, fifteen months ahead of schedule.[13] 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 13 December 2006, the UTA Board of Trustees voted to change the name of the station next to the Delta Center to "Arena" in response to the renaming of the nearby indoor arena to EnergySolutions Arena.[14]

On 23 February 2006, plans for extending the main line westward to the current Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub near the Gateway District were approved. Two stations were built near the Gateway shopping district, as well as one at the Salt Lake Central Station (Salt Lake Intermodal Hub). They opened in April 2008,[15][dead link] bringing the total number of stations to 28.

UTA currently has two service centers for TRAX maintenance: the Lovendahl Rail Service Center, which is just off the Red Line in Midvale, and the Jordan River Service Center, which is just off the Green Line in South Salt Lake.

FrontLines 2015

On 21 September 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 21 December 2006, the Salt Lake County Council created a priority list for the sales tax, saying that TRAX and commuter rail should take priority.[16] A letter of intent signed with the Federal Transit Administration on 24 September 2007 secured the remaining $500 million in funding for the light rail lines.[10] This money will be used to finance the FrontLines 2015 expansion project, which will add four TRAX extensions by 2015 (as well as an expansion to FrontRunner commuter rail).

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.[3]

West Valley and South Jordan extensions

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 2 August 2011,[7] and permanently opened for regular service on 7 August. Both extensions were completed ahead of schedule and under budget.[7] Upon completion of these expansions UTA adopted a color-code line names in place of their old destination-based line names.

Airport extension

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 22 October 2008.[17] It will contain 6 additional stations, including a transfer station to FrontRunner. Completion of the six-mile (10 km) expansion will open 14 April 2013.[18]

Draper extension

On 14 November 2006, the Draper City Council approved the TRAX extension into that city.[19] 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.[20] Use of the UTA right of way for the line was challenged in court and was later approved by the Utah Supreme Court on 12 July 2008.[21] UTA published a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the new line that names the UTA right of way as the preferred route. Construction on the first phase of the extension, which will include three new stations, has begun and is expected to be completed by August 2013. A second phase will eventually extend the line further south to 14600 South (near I-15), but dates have yet to be announced regarding the constructions and completion of the second phase.

Sugar House Streetcar

Main article: Sugar House Streetcar

For several years a TRAX spur into the Salt Lake City neighborhood of Sugar House had been contemplated. A series of community meetings were held in Sugar House as part of a larger transit study undertaken by UTA. Several transit alternatives were presented to the neighborhood, including bus rapid transit, light rail, and a streetcar.[22] The streetcar seemed to be the preferred alternative..[23] On 20 October 2010, the Sugar House Streetcar line received a $26 million federal grant that would allow the street car to be completed in less than two years.[24] 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. The Sugar House Streetcar line is anticipated to open in late 2013.[25]

A Blue Line train at Salt Lake Central Station
A sign at the Courthouse Station indicates the terminus of each line heading north

Planned expansion projects

UTA has ordered a Draft Environment Study Report for transit alternatives in southern Davis County, including more comprehensive bus service, streetcar lines, and a TRAX line.[26] Some residents opposed UTA's proposal to bring light rail to southern Davis County.[27]

In conjunction with the Mountain View Corridor project, there are also non-specific plans to eventually build a TRAX line on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley in the same general area as the Mountain View Corridor.[28]

Lines and stations

Main articles: Blue Line (TRAX), Red Line (TRAX), and Green Line (TRAX)
Main article: List of UTA TRAX stations
TRAX Lines
Line Opened
(extensions) 		Stations Length Terminals
bgcolor=#Template:UTA color width=32px | Blue Line
UTA Route 701 		1999
(2008, 2013) 		21

2013: 24

 18.0 miles (29.0 km) Downtown Salt Lake City – Sandy
(Salt Lake Central – Sandy Civic Center)

August 2013: Downtown – Draper
(Salt Lake Central – Draper Town Center)

bgcolor=#Template:UTA color | Red Line
UTA Route 703 		2001
(2003, 2011) 		25 University of Utah (Salt Lake City) – Daybreak (South Jordan)
(University Medical Center – Daybreak Parkway)
bgcolor=#Template:UTA color | Green Line
UTA Route 704 		2011
(2013) 		15

2013: 18 		Downtown Salt Lake City – West Valley City
(Salt Lake Central – West Valley Central)

14 April 2013: Airport – West Valley City (via Arena)
(Airport – West Valley Central)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2012" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. 28 Nov 2012. Retrieved 4 Jan 13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ a b c "UTA Fleet: Trax and FrontRunner" (PDF). Utah Transit Authority. August 2008. Retrieved 11 Feb 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Siemens announces biggest US light rail order". Railway Gazette International. 15 May 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  4. ^ "Two Light Rail Extensions for Salt Lake, with More on the Way". The Transport Politic. 7 Aug 2011. Retrieved 9 Aug 2011.
  5. ^ "UTA TRAX LightRail". Utah Rails. 6 Jan 2007. Retrieved 19 Aug 2007.
  6. ^ "UTA Announces FrontRunner Grand Opening Date!" (Web) (Press release). Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 10 Jan 2013.
  7. ^ a b c Davidson, Lee (2 Aug 2011). "TRAX lines opening a year early, 20% under budget". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 3 Aug 2011.
  8. ^ "UTA setting end dates on TRAX construction". Deseret News. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 2 Jun 2008.
  9. ^ Warburton, Nicole (29 Dec 2006). "Tax to build 3 rail lines, fix highway". Deseret News. Retrieved 3 Jun 2008.
  10. ^ a b Warburton, Nicole (25 Sep 2007). "UTA on track for U.S. funds". Deseret News. Retrieved 3 Jun 2008]. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. ^ Warburton, Nicole (27 Jan 2008). "New method of counting shows 'decline' in TRAX ridership". Deseret News. Retrieved 16 Feb 2008.
  12. ^ United Press International (10 Oct 1988). "$5 million OK'd for light rail". Deseret News.
  13. ^ Fattah, Geoffrey (30 Sep 2003). "UTA extends TRAX line to U. med center". Deseret News. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  14. ^ The Associated Press (14 Dec 2006). "UTA trustees OK nearly $239M budget". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 17 Dec 2006.
  15. ^ UTA Projects/Programs
  16. ^ Warburton, Nicole (21 Dec 2006). "Tax to build 3 rail lines, fix highway". Deseret Morning News. Retrieved 1 Jan 2007. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Laura Hancock. "UTA breaking ground today for airport TRAX line". Deseret News. Retrieved 28 Jun 2009. 22 October 2008.
  18. ^ "UTA FrontLines 2015: Airport Line" (PDF). Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 4 Jan 2013.
  19. ^ Nielson-Stowell, Amelia (15 Nov 2006). "Draper approves TRAX route". Deseret News. Retrieved 17 Dec 2006.
  20. ^ "Draper Transit Corridor Project: Alternatives Considered" (PDF). Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 4 Jan 2013.
  21. ^ "Court says Draper TRAX route OK". KSL.com via AP. 12 Jul 2008. Retrieved 12 Jul 2008.
  22. ^ UTA – Sugar House Transit Study[dead link]</
  23. ^ "Sugar House Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis Open House Summary" (PDF). Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 4 Jan 2013.
  24. ^ Page, Jared (20 Oct 10). "Salt Lake City receives $26 million for Sugar House streetcar project". Deseret News. Retrieved 20 October 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ http://www.shstreetcar.com/updates.htm
  26. ^ South Davis Transit Study Overview, 18 Feb 2010.
  27. ^ Dougherty, Joseph M. (29 Mar 10). "Coalition to rally tonight against South Davis light rail". Retrieved 10 Jan 2013. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |newpaper= ignored (|newspaper= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "Mountain View Corridor Enviromental Impact Statement". Utah Department of Transportation. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |format= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Text "www.udot.utah.gov/mountainview/sites/office.ppbh.com.UDOT.mvc/files/Transit_Typical_Sections-Dedicated_Right_of_Way_Transit_Alternative.pdf" ignored (help)
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