UTA Takes New TRAX Lines for Test Run

(KCPW News) The Utah Transit Authority allowed reporters to ride along for a test run today of the new TRAX lines that will open this summer. The Mid-Jordan line starts out in South Jordan at Daybreak, connects to the main line at Fashion Place, and becomes the new University line. The West Valley line starts behind West Valley City Hall, connects at 2100 South and travels to Salt Lake Central Station. UTA Spokesman Gerry Carpenter says the goal is to have every resident along the Wasatch front be within one mile of a major transit stop.

“These TRAX lines are going out to neighborhoods that have never had TRAX before and so there’s going to be a lot of people that are going to try them out for the first time.” Carpenter Says. “It’s a great way to commute, especially if you’re coming from the South or the west part of the valley. Traffic congestion can be really bad but our trains always run on time. They’re very regular and frequent and get you straight downtown or up to the University of Utah.”

The new lines will run full schedules without passengers by the end of June. Carpenter says trains will be running every 15 minutes both ways in places people aren’t used to seeing them, so it’s important for drivers and pedestrians to keep a look out and watch for crossings.

“If you’re driving in the West Valley area, these trains, many of them will share the roadway or intersections with cars and so you want to be sure and obey all of those traffic signals.” He Says. “It’s just like driving downtown. The trains will obey the traffic signals just like the cars and so you don’t want to run the red light when the train has the green to go ahead.”

Both lines are slated to carry passengers beginning August 7th. They’re expected to increase ridership by 6 percent.