Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff joined local elected officials and agency leadership today in Draper to announce a federal funding grant for the Draper TRAX extension. The $116 million grant will cover about 80 percent of the project, while the remainder will be covered by local option sales tax revenues.

The TRAX extension will bring light rail from 10000 South in Sandy (currently the end of the line), to Draper’s City Center. The line will include stops at 11400 South in Sandy, along with 11800 South and 12400 South in Draper.

Early utility work began on the project about a year ago. Crews worked hard on the project through the summer. Today, new rail has been laid the entire length of the corridor – work on the project is nearly 50 percent complete.

As part of the event, rail personnel towed one of the agency’s new light rail vehicles on the completed track to the event. Electrical work will be added to the line in 2012.

For updates on the Draper TRAX extension or to learn more about the project, please visit the Draper project page. New information is posted weekly on Fridays.

When completed, an estimated 5,300 riders will use the extension daily.