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UTAH TRANSIT
AUTHORITY

The Utah Transit Authority, AKA TRAX, is a new electric interurban which runs on the former UP main line through Salt Lake City. It opened for service in 1999. The present line runs from the Delta Center at 300W South Temple to the Sandy Civic Center at 10000 South.

TRAX University Line

The University Light Rail Transit Line (University LRT), to be owned and operated by the UTA, began construction the week of June 26, 2000. Construction, however, began quietly with the installation of dry utilities ½ block north and south of 4th South along 5th East. The same activity occurred on 7th East June 29 and then on 8th East. Site investigation work began in late May and continues along the alignment. Minimal impact to traffic is occurring.

This project is divided into reaches. The reaches are:

Reach 1 From Main Street to 400 East
Reach 2 From 400 East to 800 East
Reach 3 From 800 East to 1100 East
Reach 4 From 1100 East to Rice Eccles Stadium

May 2002

Federal railroad regulators have approved Union Pacific's sale of a railroad right of way to the Utah Transit Authority for commuter-rail use along the Wasatch Front.

The Surface Transportation Board issued the ruling this week. U.P. will get at least $140 million for 175 miles of rail corridor that also could be preserved for future light-rail extensions in the Salt Lake Valley.

UTA negotiated with the nation's largest railroad for use of its north-south main line between Brigham City and Payson, as well as the abandoned line into Sugar House from South Salt Lake and a line from Midvale to West Jordan and South Jordan.

Studies are under way for a possible TRAX extension along the latter line to West Jordan/South Jordan, along with another possible light-rail route to West Valley City. And the first commuter-rail line along the newly purchased right of way probably would stretch from Ogden to Salt Lake City.

Construction of an l extension of the 400 South University Line to the University of Utah's medical campus is under way.

09/19/02

The UTA has scheduled an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Capitol to mark the signing and passing of a $185 million check to Union Pacific Railroad. The deal, announced in January during a ceremony at Salt Lake City's historic Union Pacific depot, includes acquisition of the following:

    * Portions of UP's main line from Salt Lake City to Ogden and from Salt Lake City to Spanish Fork. A new, commuter-only track and sidings will be constructed through those areas.

    * Access to UP's existing freight tracks between Ogden and Brigham City.

    * UP-owned, but abandoned, rail corridors. These include the Denver & Rio Grande Western route from North Salt Lake to Roy, the Sugar House rail spur from South Salt Lake to southeast Salt Lake City, rail from Point of the Mountain in northern Utah County to Orem, and an abandoned rail spur from Spanish Fork to Payson.

    * The corridor known as the Mid Jordan line, which branches off from UP's main line from Midvale, through West Jordan and into South Jordan.

Last Update 09/23/02

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