UTA’s first modern streetcar began service ten years ago — on December 8, 2013.
The S-Line connects residential and commercial areas in Sugar House and South Salt Lake City. With seven stops along the two-mile route, this is a convenient way to visit parks, shops, and restaurants and connect with TRAX and bus lines.
The line runs in a historic rail corridor alongside a bike and pedestrian greenway that connects to the Parley’s Trail system.
The S-Line operates on mostly a single track, but in 2019, double-tracking of a section of passing track from 300 East to 500 East allowed the S-Line to provide more frequent service, serving stops every 15 minutes instead of every 20 minutes.
In 2021 the Utah Legislature allocated $12 million in funding for an extension to the S-Line streetcar. UTA and partners are embarking on a study to extend the S-Line and increase its service and value to the community. Learn more and provide feedback on this project at techlinkstudy.com
Since the line opened on December 8, 2013, the South Salt Lake and Sugar House have experienced significant growth and redevelopment. Local transit enthusiast Mike Christensen said it well in Building Salt Lake when he said, “The S-Line is not just a streetcar or a linear park or a trail. It stands as an example of how investment in infrastructure shapes our future.”
What Makes the S-Line a Streetcar?
The S-Line operates at a maximum speed of 25 mph, with frequent stops. The line was specifically designed to be a neighborhood travel option, safely sharing the Parley’s Trail corridor with cyclists and pedestrians. The Siemens S70 cars used on the S-Line are the same as those used on TRAX but have a distinctive silver color scheme.
History of the S-Line
The S-Line is built on a rail corridor that originally served as a spur of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad. The line was also used to transport goods to the Granite Furniture Store and Burton Lumber’s Sugar House location. UTA purchased the rail corridor from Union Pacific in 2002 in an acquisition that also included FrontRunner and the Mid-Jordan TRAX Line areas.
Planning for the S-Line began in 2006, as UTA and partnering organizations evaluated the best way to expand transportation through the growing neighborhoods of South Salt Lake and Sugar House. The S-Line was chosen as a way to efficiently connect residents to TRAX while boosting economic development in the area. Funding was provided through a $26 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant.
In the ten years since it opened, the S-Line has become a fixture of the rapidly growing South Salt Lake and Sugar House neighborhoods. This little line supports average weekday ridership of 1,167 with room to grow.
Ride the S-Line, Get Commemorative Swag
If you haven’t given the S-Line a try, now’s the time. Friday, December 8, from 3-4 p.m., UTA employees will be on board S-Line trains handing out limited edition pins from the original open date, while supplies last. Come take a ride with us to Sugar House for dinner and shopping, then take a stroll around Fairmont Park. Fifteen-minute service and connections to the TRAX system at Central Pointe Station make riding the S-Line simple and convenient.