Green Line (TRAX)
| Green Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| File:UTA Trax logo.svg | |||
 Green Line at Gallivan Plaza | |||
| Overview | |||
| Status | operating | ||
| Owner | Utah Transit Authority (UTA) | ||
| Locale | Wasatch Front | ||
| Termini |
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| Stations | 12 (18 by April 2013) | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | light rail | ||
| System | UTA TRAX | ||
| Route number | 704 | ||
| Operator(s) | UTA | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 7 August 2011 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| |||
The Green Line is a light rail line on the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) TRAX system system inSalt Lake City, Utah, United States operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). It opened on 7 August 2011 and runs between Arena and West Valley Central, servicing a total of twelve stations: seven in Salt Lake City, one in South Salt Lake, and four in West Valley City. The last four were constructed specifically for the Green Line to extend TRAX into West Valley City. Another extension of this line to the Salt Lake City International Airport is nearly complete and service is expected to begin on 14 April 2013.[1] For several years, prior to December 2012 and the rerouting in preparation for the opening of the Airport extension, the Green Line continued on from Arena to Salt Lake Central.
Route
The TRAX Green Line is designated as UTA Route 704.
The Green Line begins at West Valley Central, which is located at 2750 West 3590 South in West Valley City. Just after leaving the station it turns east for one block, passing between West Valley City Police Department and West Valley City Hall, before heading north down the middle of 2700 West. After passing by the northern end of Valley Fair Mall it crosses 3500 South (SR-171) and continues north in the median of 2700 West to 3100 South. It then heads east along the south side of 3100 South and crosses over I-215 and past the north side of the Maverik Center. Just after the Maverik Center it turns north and immediately reaches the next station, Decker Lake, at 3070 South 2200 West. After Decker Lake it heads northeast in the median of Decker Lake Drive until that street heads due north at Research Way (2770 South). At Research Way the Green Line turns east again and heads the median of that street. Just before Redwood Road (1700 W/SR-68) is Redwood Junction.
Although no longer within a street right-of-way after crossing Redwood Road, the Green Line continues east, crossing Lester Street (1595 West), until it reaches the Jordan River. It then heads north until it crosses West Parkway Avenue (2455 South) and then continues north down the middle of Winston Street (1070 West) to River Trail at 2340 South. After that station it continues north for about a half a block before leaving the street right-of-way again and heading east. It immediately crosses the Jordan River (passing from West Valley City into South Salt Lake), and then follows along the south side of the 21st South Freeway (SR-210). After passing the Jordan River Service Center (one of UTA's two TRAX maintenance facilities) on the south there is a series of viaducts that allow the Green Line to cross over 900 West, 700 West, the north end of the Union Pacific rail yard, the UTA FrontRunner tracks, and 600 West before reaching the Spaghetti Bowl (the junction of I-15, I-80 and SR-210). (In railway terminology the Green Line's crossing overtop the Union Pacific and FrontRunner tracks is referred to as a flying junction.)
From 600 West the Green Line briefly follows the route of the old Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) Sugar House Branch, which goes under I-15/I-80 and then briefly runs along the south side of West Andy Avenue to 300 West. After crossing 300 West it continues east until about 220 West where it reaches the Union Pacific right-of-way and the junction with the other two TRAX lines (the Blue Line and Red Line). The previous station for both the Blue and Red Lines is Millcreek with the Blue Line having started in Sandy and the Red Line originating in the Daybreak community in South Jordan. 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 to the nearly completed Sugar House Streetcar (which runs further east along the old D&RGW Sugar House Branch right-of-way) once its 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 an infill station[2] 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. Arena is the last station on the Green Line within the Free Fare Zone.
Although the Airport Extension will not open for service until 14 April 2013, the Green Line trains currently continue on from Arena to the Salt Lake International Airport.
Following Arena, the two Lines continue on to 400 West where they divide paths. The Blue Line turns south down the middle of 400 West towards Planetarium and eventually ending at the Salt Lake Intermodal Hub, while the Green Line turns north. After about a block down the middle of 400 West, the Green Line turns west again down the north side of North Temple Street (100 North) and ascends the North Temple Viaduct to the next station, North Temple Bridge/Guadalupe. This station is often referred to as simply North Temple and is the only bi-level station operated by UTA. It is also flying junction since Green Line tracks cross over the FrontRunner and Union Pacific tracks. The TRAX platform is on the Viaduct and the FrontRunner platform is at gound level (at grade) just north of the Viaduct, with escalators and stairs to transfer passengers between. This station is also an infill station on the FrontRunner line and was built for the express purpose of creating a common station between the Green Line and FrontRunner. From North Temple Bridge/Guadalupe, FrontRunner runs south to Salt Lake Central and eventually Provo in central Utah County and north to Woods Cross,through Davis County, and eventually Pleasant View in northern Weber County.
Leaving North Temple Bridge/Guadalupe the Green Line crosses back over the Union Pacific right-of-way and descends to 600 West. Just after crossing 600 West it shifts from the north side of North Temple Street to the median and then crosses back under I-15. Just after crossing 800 West it reaches Jackson/Euclid. Continuing west down the median of North Temple Street, it crosses 900 West and 1000 West before reaching Fairpark at 1150 West. This station is located immediately south of the Utah State Fairpark (home of the annual Utah State Fair and other events). Just after Fairpark, the Green Line crosses back over the Jordan River and passes the Rocky Mountain Power facility on the south before reaching Power at 1500 West.
From Power, the Green Line continues west down the median of North Temple Street, crossing Redwood Road once again, until it reaches the next to the last station on the line, 1940 W Temple Street. From this station it crosses under I-215 and then continues down the median of Old Highway 186 as that road splits from North Temple Street and heads southwest towards I-80. Just after crossing 2400 West the Greem Line shifts to the north side of the road as Old Highway 186 continues southwest to I-80. The Green Line then continues west on the north side of the I-80 right-of-way, crossing over the Surplus Canal, until Old Highway 186 curves north again just east of the I-80/Bangeter Highway (SR-154) interchange and then merges with Terminal Drive as that road heads northeast and then north to the Salt Lake International Airport. The Green Line parallels the east side of Terminal Drive until it reaches the last station, Airport, which is located immediately south of Terminal One. There is direct access to the terminal from the north end of the platform.
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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]
Airport extension
Construction began on 22 October 2008 on an extension to the Salt Lake City International Airport. The extension includes six new TRAX stations. In addition to the Airport Station, there will be five new stations along North Temple Street (100 North), including one on top of the newly built North Temple Viaduct bridge. The old bridge was torn down and a new one constructed as part of the project.[6] The new bridge will feature a TRAX station on top and a FrontRunner commuter rail station underneath (North Temple). After 9 December 2012, service on the line ended Arena in order to prepare for test trains and service to the Airport, thus permanenty ending service (via the Green Line) to the first three stations of the former route (Salt Lake Central, Old GreekTown, and Planetarium). Service to Airport is scheduled to begin 14 April 2013.[7]
Stations
See also
- List of rapid transit systems
- Transportation in Salt Lake City
- TRAX (light rail)
- TRAX Blue Line
- TRAX Red Line
- FrontRunner
- UTA MAX
- Sugar House Streetcar
References
- ^ "Airport TRAX Line to Open April 14" (Web). Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 14 Dec 2012.
- ^ Daley, John (14 Apr 2004). "Two New Stops Planned for TRAX". KSL.com. Retrieved 25 Jul 2009.
- ^ "TRAX Parking and Stops" (Web). Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 14 Dec 2012.
- ^ "Free Fare Zone" (jpg). Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 14 Dec 2012.
- ^ "UTA Announces Changes to Free Fare Zone for Bus" (Web). Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 14 Dec 2012.
- ^ Daley, John (16 Mar 2009). "Airport TRAX line to revamp North Temple". KSL. Retrieved 14 Aug 2011.
- ^ "Airport TRAX Line to Open April 14" (Web). Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 14 Dec 2012.
- ^ a b "WVC gets new intermodal hub". KSL. 17 Sep 2009. Retrieved 16 Jun 2011.
- ^ "West Valley TRAX Line Maps". Utah Transit Authority. 2011. Retrieved 16 Jun 2011.
External links
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| Bus Rapid Transit |
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| Police | ||
| Former lines | ||