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The Utah Transit Authority is proposing to reduce trips on its direct Sandy-to-University TRAX trains this April. UTA will hold several public hearings in February to share information on the proposed changes and seek public comment prior to final implementation. UTA is also planning changes to FrontRunner commuter rail service that runs from Salt Lake City to Pleasant View. Due to the economic recession and lower sales tax revenues, UTA is faced with a budget shortfall of $38 million. The agency has been forced to reduce budgets across the board, including through reductions to bus and rail services. "We have made every effort to avoid cutting service to protect our riders," UTA General Manager John Inglish said. "The majority of our budget savings have come from increased internal efficiencies, reduced employee compensation and benefits, and delaying projects and programs. However, some cuts to service have become unavoidable in this economic crisis." TRAX The proposed changes to TRAX service are all focused on route 703, the direct Sandy-to-University trains. This service would be reduced to several trips in each direction during the morning and evening peak travel times. The changes are proposed to go into effect April 5. "The good news is that we will continue to provide 15-minute TRAX service to the U and Sandy all day," Inglish said. "However, some riders may now need to transfer at Gallivan Station." FrontRunner In addition to the proposed TRAX changes, UTA is planning to implement several changes to FrontRunner service effective April 5. On weekdays, one new early morning trip will be added departing Ogden at 4:16 a.m. The addition is based on customer demand for an earlier weekday trip to Salt Lake City. Early connections to downtown Salt Lake City and the University of Utah are available on bus routes 2 and 200. Mid-day FrontRunner service will be reduced to hourly during off-peak hours. For northbound travelers, trains will run hourly between approximately 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. For southbound travelers, trains will run hourly between approximately 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. FrontRunner will continue to run at 30-minute frequency during peak commute hours. Evening FrontRunner service will shift to hourly after approximately 7 p.m. northbound and 8 p.m. southbound. The last northbound trip will be at 10:57 p.m. Other changes include a schedule adjustment on Saturdays to improve connection times and a change to Pleasant View afternoon trips, which will begin requiring a transfer at Ogden station. UTA will hold three public hearings on the proposed TRAX changes: - Thursday, Feb. 11 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Salt Lake Library, Main Branch, Conference Rooms A & B, 210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City
- Tuesday, Feb.16 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the UTA Mobility Center, (4384 South 50 West, Murray - near the Murray North TRAX stop)
- Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium, 6th Floor Conference Room, 451 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City
UTA will also accept comments via mail, e-mail and online through Feb. 25: Detailed schedule information on proposed TRAX and FrontRunner changes may be found on the UTA website at www.rideuta.com/changeday.
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