West Valley TRAX Line
Construction on UTA’s West Valley TRAX line is underway. In addition to increasing overall mobility in Salt Lake County, the five-mile line will offer commuters a high-speed transit option that is a viable alternative to the automobile. The line is expected to improve transit travel times, traffic congestion, and accessibility in West Valley City, Utah's second largest municipality. Ultimately, light rail will connect West Valley's residential, shopping, business and entertainment venues, and offer riders easy access to downtown Salt Lake City, the University of Utah, Sandy City and eventually the Salt Lake City International Airport.
The Alignment
The line will branch off from the Sandy to Salt Lake TRAX Line at the 2100 South Central Pointe station traveling west crossing under Interstate 15. Bridges will extend the line over the Union Pacific Railroad's Roper Yard, 900 West and the Jordan River. After crossing the Jordan River, the line will turn south and then westward to run north of the Redwood Nature Area and the Decker Lake drainage canal. It will then travel through the Chesterfield neighborhood along the Cross Town Trail and continue west across Redwood Road to Research Way. After following Decker Lake Drive to 3100 South at the E Center, the light rail line will continue west on the south side of 3100 South, then turn south on 2700 West, crossing 3500 South and ending at the West Valley City Hall, across from the Valley Fair Mall.
A final environmental study report (FESR) by UTA was released in the spring of 2007, offering additional detail on the environmental impacts of the preferred light rail alternative. Click here to see a copy of this study.
Project Features
- Five miles of ballasted and imbedded double track, both in separate rights-of-way and in-street along roadways;
- Connects with the Sandy to Salt Lake TRAX line at the 2100 South Station;
- Four new stations
- 1070 West 2320 South (located in the Chesterfield industrial area);
- 2770 South Redwood Road (near the Decker Lake Business Park);
- 3100 South Decker Lake Drive (adjacent to the E Center)
- West Valley City Intermodal Center (north of the West Valley City Hall)
- Initial 15-minute service frequency
- Projected cost of $250-290 million
- Projected ridership of 10,500 daily passengers by 2030.
Travel Time and Benefits
Light rail transit offers an attractive alternative to automobile travel and paid parking. A trip on TRAX in 2030 from West Valley's Intermodal Center to the 2100 South Station will take approximately 14 minutes.
Other benefits of new light rail service:
- Reliable schedules and more frequent service
- Smooth interface with existing TRAX service (to downtown Salt Lake City, the University of Utah, Ogden and Sandy City) as well as other planned rail corridors (Airport Line, Mid-Jordan Line, FrontRunner, etc.)
- A safe, comfortable ride where passengers can read, work or relax
- Transit stations with rider information and improved amenities compared with existing bus stops
Current Status and Next Steps
Construction has been underway on the West Valley line for more than a year. Click here for a copy of the most recent weekly construction update or here to be added to UTA’s mailing list. While exact construction dates have not been set, UTA is working to open the line for revenue service by 2013.