West Valley TRAX Line

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Summary

In its 2007-2030 transportation plan, the area's transportation planning organization, the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), recommended a rapid transit corridor extending from the 2100 South TRAX station in South Salt Lake to West Valley's future intermodal center, to be located near the community's city hall. As a result, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is proposing to build and operate a light rail extension in this corridor. The line is expected to improve transit travel times and service for West Valley City, Utah's second largest municipality. Light rail will connect West Valley's residential, shopping, work and entertainment venues and offer easy connections to downtown Salt Lake City, the University of Utah and Sandy City and to the airport in the future. The line will offer commuters a high-speed transit option that is a viable alternative to the automobile, and it will increase overall mobility in Salt Lake County. view map

Studying the Options

WFRC and UTA initiated the line's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in 2000. The agencies selected a locally preferred alternative for a light rail corridor in South Salt Lake and West Valley City after an extensive public planning process that:

• Included several public meetings and a “scoping period” to allow the public to discuss the line and potential environmental concerns.
• Established where a rapid transit corridor could be located.
• Identified transit modes to be studied.

The DEIS was intended to inform the public of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed line and alternatives. During the DEIS process, the team evaluated a no action alternative, an enhanced bus alternative and a light rail alternative with four stations. The DEIS also included one variation on a portion of the light rail route.

The preferred light rail transit route will leave the Sandy/Salt Lake TRAX line near the 2100 South TRAX station and turn west to cross under Interstate 15. It will extend over the Union Pacific Railroad's Roper Yard, across 900 West and over the Jordan River. After crossing the 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 cross the Chesterfield neighborhood and continue west across Redwood Road to Research Way, and then follow Decker Lake Drive to 3100 South at the E Center. The light rail line will then continue west on the south side of 3100 South then south on 2700 West across 3500 South to the West Valley City Center and the Valley Fair Mall.

The preferred route will feature new light rail stations at Chesterfield, Decker Lake Business Park, the E Center and West Valley City Hall.

The DEIS featured information on land use, social and economic condition, transportation, air quality, public safety and security, noise and vibration, water resources, and indirect and cumulative impacts on wetlands, endangered and threatened species and cultural resources. Beginning in 2006, UTA began work on a final environmental study report (FESR) that offered additional detail on the environmental impacts of the preferred light rail alternative. This study was completed in spring 2007 and can be found on UTA's Web site here.

Project Features

• Five miles of ballasted double track, both in separate rights-of-way and instreet along roadways.
• Connects with the Sandy/Salt Lake TRAX line at the 2100 South Station.
• Four new stations as described above.
• Initial 15-minute service frequency.
• Projected cost of $250-290 million in years of expenditure (2009-2012).
• Projected ridership of 9,000 to 12,000 daily passengers in 2025.

Travel Time and Benefits

Light rail transit offers an attractive alternative to automobile travel and paid parking. A trip on TRAX in 2025 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 and Sandy City) as well as other planned rail corridors (Airport Line, Mid-Jordan Line, commuter rail, 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

The West Valley TRAX Line team is currently conducting final engineering, design activities and the right of way acquisition for the extension. Once these steps are completed, construction can begin. While the exact construction dates have not been set, UTA hopes to have the line open for revenue service by 2013.

For information on the organizations that have made this project possible, click here.