TRAX (light rail), TRAX is a three-line urban light rail Public transport, mass transit system operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA), serving much of the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, United States. (The official name of TRAX is Transit Express, however this name is almost never used.) Communities served by the service include Draper, Utah, Draper, Midvale, Utah, Midvale, Murray, Utah, Murray, Salt Lake City, Sandy, Utah, Sandy, South Jordan, Utah, South Jordan, South Salt Lake, Utah, South Salt Lake, West Jordan, Utah, West Jordan, and West Valley City, Utah, West Valley City.

Description

The network consists of three lines: the Blue Line (TRAX), Blue Line (previously referred to as the Sandy Line), which opened in 1999; the Red Line (TRAX), Red Line (previously referred to as the University Line), which opened in 2001; and the Green Line (TRAX), Green Line, which opened in 2011. As of July 2023, the network serves 36,900 passengers a day, making TRAX the List of United States light rail systems by ridership, 10th-largest light rail system in the United States in ridership. There are 50 stations on the 3 lines of the UTA TRAX system, with an overall length of the network being . The stations along the UTA TRAX network are open-air structures featuring passenger Canopy (building), canopies for protection from adverse weather. Many of the canopies are designed to resemble the canopy at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (which is located Downtown Salt Lake City, Downtown and listed on the National Register of Historic Places). Works of public art included at several stations were developed as part of the UTA's Art in Transit program. At first the program was met with skepticism; initially, only the stations constructed in Salt Lake City incorporated public art into their designs. This was the case as the city was initially the only one to take part in the Art in Transit program. The program has since grown in popularity, and many of the stations constructed as part of the FrontLines 2015 expansion will include public art in their final design. Nearly all stations, except those in Downtown Salt Lake City, have a Utah Transit Authority#Park-&-Ride, Park and Ride lot with free parking. TRAX Park and Ride lots may have as few as six parking spaces or as many as nearly 1200. Many of the Downtown Salt Lake City stations are located within the Utah Transit Authority#Free Fare Zone, Free Fare Zone which allows riders that both enter ''and'' exit TRAX and/or UTA buses service within the Zone to ride with no charge. Stations within the Zone include Arena (UTA station), Arena, City Center (UTA station), City Center, Courthouse (UTA station), Courthouse, Gallivan Plaza (UTA station), Gallivan Plaza, Library (UTA station), Library, Old GreekTown (UTA station), Old GreekTown, Planetarium (UTA station), Planetarium, Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub, Salt Lake Central, and Temple Square (UTA station), Temple Square. All of UTA's TRAX and ''FrontRunner'' trains and stations, streetcars and streetcar stops, and all fixed route buses are compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Americans with Disabilities Act and are therefore accessible to those with disabilities. Signage at the stations, on the passenger platforms, and on the trains clearly indicate accessibility options. Ramps on the passenger platforms on the Blue Line and assistance from the train operator may be necessary for wheelchair boarding (weekdays only). These ramps are not used on weekends nor on the Red or Green Lines. In accordance with the List of smoking bans in the United States#Utah, Utah Clean Air Act and UTA ordinance, "smoking is prohibited on UTA vehicles as well as UTA bus stops, TRAX stations, and ''FrontRunner'' stations".

History

UTA's TRAX began service on December 4, 1999, with the opening of what was then called the Sandy/Salt Lake Line (now called the Blue Line) which ran from Sandy Civic Center station, Sandy Civic Center to Arena station (UTA), Delta Center (now called Arena). The line saw construction of a pair of infill stations with the opening of 900 South station, 900 South in 2005 and Sandy Expo station, Sandy Expo in 2006 and the 650 South station, 650 South in 2022 as a result of demand for additional service. The University Line (TRAX) commenced service on 15 December 2001 between Stadium station (UTA), Stadium and Delta Center. The line expanded in April 2008, when three new stations opened between Planetarium station, Planetarium and Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub, Salt Lake Central. The Sandy/University Line began service on December 17, 2001, between Stadium and Sandy Civic Center. Originally operating on a limited schedule, by August 2009, trains were added to the line serving all stations between Sandy Civic Center and University Medical Center station, University Medical Center. Expansion as part of the FrontLines 2015 project saw the completion of an additional of track by August 2013. The completion of the Airport Line (TRAX), Airport and Draper Line (UTA TRAX), Draper extensions added service to the Salt Lake City International Airport and Draper, Utah, Draper. Salt Lake Central (which is part of the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub) connects with ''FrontRunner'' Commuter rail in North America, commuter rail (with service from Weber County, Utah, Weber County through Davis County, Utah, Davis County and Salt Lake County, Utah, Salt Lake County to Utah County, Utah, Utah County), as well as Amtrak and Greyhound Lines. In addition Murray Central station, Murray Central and North Temple Bridge/Guadalupe station, North Temple Bridge/Guadalupe also connect with ''FrontRunner''. In December 2013 the first phase of the S Line (UTA), S Line (formerly known as Sugar House Streetcar) project opened for service with a connection at Central Pointe station, Central Pointe in South Salt Lake.

Stations

Future stations

The Utah Transit Authority is undertaking a major expansion called FrontLines 2015. As part of this project UTA will add of track to the existing light-rail network as defined in the Utah Transit Authority's 2030 Long-range Transportation Plan. All of the expansions were completed and opened for service by August 2013 (except the 14600 South and Highland Drive Stations). Six of the stations are part of the Airport extension of the Green Line. Three completed stations and two more proposed stations are or will be part of the Draper extension of the Blue Line.

Notes

References