Trax is opening in Daybreak Aug 7th

TRAX UTA Q & A Open House: Tuesday november 16, 2010 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Daybreak comunity Center room A.

TRAX is coming to Daybreak in 2011! UTA has set the opening of its new Mid-Jordan TRAX line for operation August 7 of next year. to best allocate limited bus funding and prepare for service in our area, UTA has planned a series of informal open houses to meet with residents and get feedback. come to the first to have questions answered and share your thoughts.

UTA, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), Kennecott Land Company, and the cities of Murray, Midvale, West Jordan and South Jordan are active partners on the Mid-Jordan Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project.

The new light rail (TRAX) line will run down the existing Bingham Branch Railroad corridor in a southwesterly direction branching off of the existing Sandy/Salt Lake light rail line at the 6400 South (Fashion Place) TRAX station and extending west to 5600 West. From there, the line will turn south toward Kennecott Land’s new Daybreak development in South Jordan. A map of the project can be found by clicking here.

The Mid-Jordan line is being constructed to serve the rapidly-growing southwest region of the Salt Lake Valley. When complete, approximately 19,000 riders per day are expected to make the 46-minute trip to Salt Lake Central Station (or the 52-minute trip to the University of Utah).

The environmental study phase of the process was completed in July 2007. In September 2007, the FTA issued an official Record of Decision (ROD), which is an agreement between FTA and UTA to implement the mitigation measures required for the project. In November 2007, FTA approved a Letter of No Prejudice (LONP) for the Mid-Jordan Transit Corridor, which allowed UTA to proceed with the purchase of long lead materials items and limited construction activities, such as grading for corridor access, utility potholing, survey and relocation, construction of major fills, and construction of bridge abutments and walls necessary to support fills.

UTA officially broke ground and began initial construction activities on the Mid-Jordan line in May 2008. The FTA approved the project’s final funding package, called the Full Funding Grant Agreement, in January 2009. The agreement commits $428 million in federal money to the project. The project will also use some local matching funds made available as part of the sales tax increase passed by Salt Lake County voters in November 2006

After nearly two years of construction, the project is over 61% complete. Construction is currently underway along the entire 10.6 mile corridor. Much of the work has been concentrated in the 2.1-mile Daybreak segment of the line, in Kennecott Land’s Daybreak development. This section will serve as a test track, providing a dedicated rail corridor for testing the 77 new light-rail vehicles that have been purchased for use on the Mid-Jordan line as well as the other Frontlines 2015 light rail projects.

As of February 2010, nearly all track has been laid for the new line. Future station platforms have been constructed at all 10 stations, and several Park & Ride lots have been completed. Bridges have been completed at Winchester Street, 7200 South, 700 West, the Jordan River, 7800 South, the Utah/Salt Lake Canal and Bangerter Highway. By mid-spring, all 16 noise barriers will have been installed, and nearly all grade crossings will be complete. Construction continues to progress with the installation of overhead catenary system (OCS) poles and wires, and the installation and testing of railway signaling equipment.

Construction is expected to be completed in spring 2011. For information on current construction activity on the Mid-Jordan line or to sign up to receive construction updates via e-mail, click here.