TRAX operates seven days a week, with the exception of some holidays. It operates Monday through Friday from approximately 4:30a.m. to 11:30p.m. with a 15-minute headway on each line during the entirety of operating hours. It operates weekends from approximately 5:00 am to nearly midnight, with a 15-minute headway on Saturdays and a 30-minute headway on Sundays.[10]
29 UTDC LRVs (1041–1069) were purchased second-hand from the Santa Clara VTA in 2004 and refurbished for service on TRAX.[11] These were withdrawn from service in 2018.[citation needed]
Varying based on projected ridership, the Blue Line typically operates 3-4 car trains, the Green Line 2-3 car trains, and the Red Line 2-4 car trains.
History
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.[15] With the opening of these two extensions in 2011, the TRAX lines were renamed as colors instead of destinations, with the Blue Line running from the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub to Sandy, the Red Line running from the University of Utah Medical Center to the Daybreak community in South Jordan, and the Green Line running from the intermodal hub to the West Valley Intermodal Hub.
In 2013 the Green Line was realigned slightly north and away from the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub, allowing for the opening of the extension to the Salt Lake City International Airport. Several months later, in August 2013, the Blue Line was extended further south to Draper (which opened August 18, 2013).[16] 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.[17] A letter of intent signed with the Federal Transit Administration on September 24, 2007, secured the remaining funding for the light rail lines.[18]
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 (24km) line in 1999. By the beginning of 2008, the expanded system of 17.5 miles (28.2km) served an estimated 40,000 passengers each day.[19] Ridership for the fourth quarter of 2012 was reported to be at 60,600, making it the ninth-busiest light rail system in the United States of America.[A 1]
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 criticism. On October 10, 1988, Congress approved $5 million in funds to preserve land along the proposed light rail corridor.[20] Funding for the light rail line, 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 light rail would be 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 September 29, 2003, fifteen months ahead of schedule.[21] 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 December 13, 2006, UTA's 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 Delta Center to EnergySolutions Arena (which is once again known as the Delta Center.[22]
On February 23, 2006, plans for extending the main line westward to the current Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub near the Gateway were approved. Two stations were built near the Gateway, as well as one at the Salt Lake Central Station (Salt Lake Intermodal Hub). They opened in April 2008,[23] bringing the total number of stations to 28.
UTA has two service centers for TRAX maintenance: the Midvale Rail Service Center, which is just off the Red Line in Midvale, southwest of its junction with the Blue Line, and the Jordan River Service Center, which is just off the Green Line northeast of River Trail. The Jordan River building was originally an old warehouse for ZCMI, which had recently ceased operations and was renovated into a rail service center in 1999. The Midvale Center was similarly repurposed from a former warehouse around the time of the Red and Green lines opening in 2011, it was also built to handle UTA's brand new Siemens S70 LRV's. Utah Railway (under its subsidiary Salt Lake City Southern Railroad and with contracts from BNSF) and the Savage Bingham & Garfield Railroad both operate freight service over TRAX tracks via trackage rights.[24]
An additional infill station, 600 South Main Street in Salt Lake City, along all three lines, opened on July 26, 2022.[25][26] The station was part of the initial plans for the system, but the demand was not at the level needed for a station until recently.[27]
FrontLines 2015
On September 21, 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 December 21, 2006, the Salt Lake County Council created a priority list for the sales tax, saying TRAX and commuter rail should take priority.[28] A letter of intent signed with the Federal Transit Administration on September 24, 2007, secured the remaining $500 million in funding for the light rail lines.[18] These funds were used to finance the FrontLines 2015 expansion project, which added four TRAX extensions by 2015 (as well as an expansion to FrontRunnercommuter rail).
In order to support planned TRAX expansion, UTA ordered 77 Siemens S70light rail vehicles from Siemens AG. It is the company's largest light rail contract in the United States to date.[6]
In 2008, construction began on two new extensions: one extension of 5.1 miles (8.2km) through West Valley City (now part of the Green Line) and another extension of 10.6 miles (17.1km) through the southwest portion of the Salt Lake Valley (now part of the Red Line).[7] Both extensions were debuted in ceremonial openings on August 2, 2011,[15] and permanently opened for regular service on August 7. Both extensions were completed ahead of schedule and under budget.[15] Upon completion of these expansions UTA adopted a color-code line names in place of their old destination-based line names.
After the first year of operation, ridership on these portions of the Green and Red lines was less than was projected by UTA. However, UTA has stated the projected ridership was for the year 2015. Since these lines were opened for service years earlier than originally planned, the anticipated growth on the west side of Salt Lake Valley has just not happened, yet. UTA affirms that by 2015 ridership will meet the original projections.[29]
Salt Lake International Airport station, prior to being relocated to the rebuilt terminal in 2021
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 the eastern portion to be constructed. The airport line eventually came to fruition, however, and ground was broken on October 22, 2008.[30] The extension opened on April 14, 2013,[31] adding 6 miles (9.7km)[7] and six additional stations to the Green Line, including a transfer station to the FrontRunner.
On November 14, 2006, the Draper City Council approved the TRAX extension into that city.[32] 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.[33] Use of the UTA right of way for the line was challenged in court and later approved by the Utah Supreme Court on July 12, 2008.[34] UTA published a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the new line that names the UTA right of way as the preferred route. The extension's first phase, which includes 3.5 miles (5.6km) and three new stations, opened on August 18, 2013.[35]
When FrontRunner (UTA's commuter rail train) started running on April 26, 2008, the only transfer station between the FrontRunner and TRAX was Salt Lake Central (Salt Lake Intermodal Hub), with the FrontRunner running north from that station to Ogden. However, with the opening of the FrontRunner South extension on December 10, 2012,[36] with service south to Provo, Murray station (adjacent to the Murray Central station was added as second transfer station which allowed for transfer to the Blue and Red lines. Although not part of the FrontRunner South extension, FrontRunner service at the new North Temple station also began on the same day. When the Airport extension of the Green Line opened for service on April 14, 2013, this station became the third transfer station between FrontRunner and TRAX at the North Temple Bridge/Guadalupe station. The FrontRunner portion of this station was built to provide a transfer station between FrontRunner and the Green Line, since the reroute of the Green Line for the Airport extension would have left the Green Line without any common station with FrontRunner.
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.[37] The streetcar seemed to be the preferred alternative.[38] On October 20, 2010, the S Line (known then as Sugar House Streetcar) received a $26 million federal grant that allowed the street car to be completed in less than two years.[39] It used 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 first phase of the S Line opened on December 8, 2013.[40][41]
In 2023, UTA published its Light Rail Strategic Plan, which highlighted plans by the agency to build new tracks along both 400 South and 400 West in Downtown Salt Lake City, connecting to the existing TRAX network at Ballpark to the south, Courthouse to the east, and either Salt Lake Central or Planetarium to the west. This expansion is also planned to include new stations at Pioneer Park and within the Granery District.[42][43] Once completed, this infrastructure is planned to allow for:
Additionally, the Strategic Plan highlights expansion of the TRAX network to the University of Utah Research Park, splitting off from the current system at University South Campus station. This new service would be provided by the proposed Orange Line. UTA proposes that these expansions be completed prior to Salt Lake City's hosting of the 2034 Winter Olympics.[44][45]
In conjunction with the Mountain View Corridor project, plans were made by UTA to build a new TRAX line on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley along 5600 West (in the same general area as the Mountain View Corridor).[46] The western line is anticipated to replace the yet-to-be-built 5600 West BRTbus rapid transit (BRT) line, which is currently stalled.
In 2015, UTA announced plans to eventually expand the Red Line south from Daybreak. Initial proposals would have the line travel south to Herriman before either turning eastbound and passing through Riverton before terminating in Draper, or continuing south through Herriman toward the Rosecrest neighborhood and Zions Bank Stadium.[47][48][49]
UTA has historically discussed proposals to extend the Blue Line from Draper to Lehi and eventually Orem, as well as creating a TRAX line to Davis County.[50] However, both projects are currently being pursued as BRT lines, with the potential for conversion to light rail in the future if needed.[51][52]
Commercial advertising restrictions
UTA does not sell naming rights for its stations, nor does it allow stations to be named after commercial businesses. Commercial advertising on TRAX platforms is prohibited, in order for the passengers to be able to notice the safety information.[53] One exception to this rule occurred during the 2002 Winter Olympics. For the duration of the games, the Arena and Temple Square stations were closed for security reasons, and during this time UTA allowed Coca-Cola to use the area of the unused Arena Station as part of its pin-trading center.[54] The advertising restriction does not apply to the sides of the TRAX train cars or to UTA's buses. Not only does UTA have advertising signs on the sides and rear of many of its buses, it also has many buses where the painting scheme of the full rear or even the entire bus is an advertisement (bus wrap).[55]
↑ Red Line Mid-Jordan extension and Green Line West Valley extension both opened in August 2011
↑ The FrontRunner South extension opened in December 2012
↑ Green Line Airport extension opened in April 2013, Blue Line Draper extension opened in August 2013, and S Line opened in December 2013
Related Research Articles
The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is a special service district responsible for providing public transportation throughout the Wasatch Front of Utah, in the United States, which includes the metropolitan areas of Ogden, Park City, Provo, Salt Lake City and Tooele. It operates fixed route buses, flex route buses, express buses, ski buses, three light rail lines in Salt Lake County (TRAX), a streetcar line in Salt Lake City, and a commuter rail train (FrontRunner) from Ogden through Salt Lake City to Provo. UTA is headquartered in Salt Lake City with operations and garages in locations throughout the Wasatch Front, including Ogden, Midvale and Orem. Light rail vehicles are stored and maintained at yards at locations in South Salt Lake and Midvale. UTA's commuter rail equipment is stored and serviced at a facility in Salt Lake City. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 35,058,000, or about 134,600 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
Transportation in Salt Lake City consists of a wide network of roads, an extensive bus system, a light rail system, and a commuter rail line. Although Salt Lake City, Utah, is a traditionally car-oriented city, the rapidly growing public transit system has a high number of riders for a city of its size, and public transit is widely supported by its residents and businesses.
The Blue Line is a light rail line on the TRAX system in the Salt Lake Valley of Utah, in the United States, operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). It is the first line of the TRAX system completed. The line opened on December 4, 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, Sandy and Draper. 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 began service on August 18, 2013.
FrontRunner is a commuter rail train operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) that runs along the Wasatch Front in north-central Utah with service from the Ogden Central Station in central Weber County through Davis County, Salt Lake City, and Salt Lake County to Provo Central station in central Utah County. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 3,736,600, or about 15,000 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
The Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub, also called Salt Lake Central station by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA), is a multi-modal transportation hub in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States served by the Blue Line of UTA's TRAX light rail system that operates in Salt Lake County and by the FrontRunner, UTA's commuter rail train that operates along the Wasatch Front with service from Ogden in central Weber County through Davis County, Salt Lake City, and Salt Lake County to Provo in central Utah County. Service at the intermodal hub is also provided by Amtrak, and Greyhound Lines, as well as UTA local bus service.
University Medical Center station, often referred to as simply Medical Center station, is a light rail station on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States, served by the Red Line of the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) TRAX light rail system. The Red Line provides service from this station to the Daybreak community of South Jordan.
The Red Line is a light rail line on the TRAX system in the Salt Lake Valley of Utah 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 Sandy Civic Center on the Blue Line. 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 Medical Center in Salt Lake City through the south end of Downtown Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake, Murray, Midvale, West Jordan, and South Jordan to the University of Utah's South Jordan Medical Center in Daybreak.
Arena station is a light rail station in Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States, served by the Blue Line and Green Line of the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) TRAX system. The Blue Line has service from the Salt Lake Intermodal Hub in Downtown Salt Lake City to Draper. The Green Line has service from the Salt Lake City International Airport and to West Valley City via Downtown Salt Lake City.
Central Pointe station is a light rail station in South Salt Lake, Utah, in the United States, served by all three lines of the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) TRAX light rail system. In December 2013, the station also became the western terminus for the S Line.
Sandy Civic Center station is a light rail station in Sandy, Utah, United States serviced by the Blue Line of Utah Transit Authority's TRAX light rail system. The Blue Line provides service from Downtown Salt Lake City to Draper. Prior to the opening of the Draper extension in 2013, this station was the southernmost on the Blue Line. The station opened on December 4, 1999, as part of the first operating segment of the TRAX system on the Sandy/University Line.
The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) operates two bus rapid transit (BRT) services along the Wasatch Front in Utah, United States. It is described by UTA as "light rail on rubber tires." As of July 2024, an additional one is under construction, two are planned, and one has been discontinued.
The S Line, or S-Line, is a public transit streetcar line in northeastern Salt Lake County, Utah, in the United States, that connects the business district of the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City with the neighboring city of South Salt Lake, as well as the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) TRAX light rail system. It is a joint project between UTA, Salt Lake City, and South Salt Lake. It opened for service on December 8, 2013. It is operated by UTA and is UTA's first streetcar line.
Jordan Valley station is a light rail station in West Jordan, Utah, United States, served by the Red Line of the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) TRAX light rail system. The Red Line provides service from the University of Utah to the Daybreak community of South Jordan.
Draper Town Center station is a light rail station located in Draper, Utah, United States, served by the TRAX Blue Line of the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) TRAX system. The Blue Line provides service north from this station to Downtown Salt Lake City.
Ogden Central Station is a commuter rail train and bus station in Ogden, Utah, United States. It is served by the FrontRunner, Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) commuter rail train, the Ogden Express, a UTA bus rapid transit service, as well as UTA local and commuter bus service, and Greyhound Lines long-distance bus service.
Airport station is a light rail station located at the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City, Utah, serviced by the Green Line of the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) TRAX system. The Green Line has service to West Valley City via Downtown Salt Lake City, and connects with the rest of the TRAX system, as well as UTA's FrontRunner commuter rail and S Line streetcar.
1940 West North Temple station is a light rail station in Salt Lake City, Utah serviced by the Green Line of the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) TRAX system. The Green Line provides service from the Salt Lake City International Airport to West Valley City, and connects with the rest of the TRAX system, as well as UTA's FrontRunner commuter rail and S Line streetcar.
Kimballs Lane station is a light rail station in Draper, Utah, United States, served by the Blue Line of Utah Transit Authority's TRAX light rail system. The Blue Line provides service from Downtown Salt Lake City to downtown Draper.
The Mount Timpanogos Transit Center was a staffed, open air bus transfer station in southeast Orem, Utah, United States. It functioned as both the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) customer service center for Utah County, as well as a bus transfer center for UTA's buses in east central Utah Valley. Prior to the opening of the FrontRunner commuter rail extension south to Provo in 2012), it was the busiest bus stop within the entire UTA bus system.
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