UTA weighs options for new TRAX Orange line and route realignment

Derick Fox
·3 min read

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Major changes may be on the way for Salt Lake City’s light rail system as transit officials weigh the option of adding in a new line connecting the Salt Lake International Airport with the University of Utah.

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) said it is looking into adding an “Orange line” to TRAX – the light rail system that connects downtown Salt Lake City with Draper and Daybreak. The proposed new line would run from east to west along North Temple and 400 South, bringing a one-train connection to the airport and the research park at the University of Utah.

Study area map for Orange Line and route reconfigurations (Courtesy: UTA)
Study area map for Orange Line and route reconfigurations (Courtesy: UTA)

The new line would pave the way for modifications to the already existing Red, Green and Blue TRAX lines as well.

For example, the Red line, which connects Daybreak to the University of Utah, would no longer stop at the Courthouse, 600 South or 900 South stations. Instead, it would continue down 400 South before turning onto 400 West stopping at five new stations before continuing its normal route at the Ballpark.

Meanwhile, the Blue line would extend to the airport, adding a route to service Salt Lake City’s west side and airport passengers.

Detailed map of downtown routes with reconfigurations and new Orange line (Courtesy: UTA)
Detailed map of downtown routes with reconfigurations and new Orange line (Courtesy: UTA)

UTA Manager of Long Range Strategic Planning Alex Baim told ABC4 the new TRAX configurations would only be a benefit for the Salt Lake region.

“Increasing mobility, access for opportunity and access for folks who need transit service is a big element of that,” said Baim. “[It adds] capacity and frequency between downtown and the airport and also downtown and the University of Utah as well as the population of folks that live along 400 South and North Temple.”

Baim also pointed toward the booming Granary District as being directly benefited by the TRAX realignment. The district has been undergoing redevelopment into a cultural center with local breweries, coffee shops, retail and concert venues. The new line running through the heart of the district would provide a direct connection with passengers and riders.

The added infrastructure would also help UTA in cases of emergencies and issues with the rail system, particularly in the downtown area. Baim explained the new Granary District route would provide an alternate route that trains can be diverted to.

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“If something happens in the area where all three lines operate right now, that can create cascading effects that impact the service all day,” explained Baim. “This provides us another way to operate.”

The new Orange line and reconfigurations are still years away but Baim told ABC4 that UTA is hoping to accelerate the process.

Salt Lake City is a bonafide frontrunner to host the Winter Olympic Games in 2034. Salt Lake City welcomed nearly one million tourists during the Winter Games in 2002, according to the Federal Highway Administration. In 2018, South Korea reportedly saw a 1.5 million influx in tourists for the Winter Games while Chinese ski resorts reported over two million tourists.

Baim said UTA hopes to have new transit infrastructure in place within the next decade to help accommodate the massive wave of tourists that accompany the games. The current timeline would see a final report of the study completed in the summer of 2024.

To learn more about the study for a new TRAX line and the route reconfigurations, visit the project’s website here. Baim said UTA and its partner, TechLink, welcome public feedback and input which can be provided online.

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