University Line (TRAX)

The University Line is an obsolete designation to a light rail line of Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) TRAX system in Salt Lake City. It was the second TRAX line opened by UTA, after the Sandy/Salt Lake Line opened in 1999. The original line ran from the Delta Center (now Arena) Station to the Stadium Station, which is west of the Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus. The eastern end of the line was extended to the University Medical Center Station in 2003, and the western end was extended in 2008 to the new Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub (Salt Lake Central). The University Line continued running under that name through August 6, 2011, after which this designation was no longer used following a system redesign. The University of Utah is now served by the Red Line.

University Line
A University train near the Frank E. Moss Federal Courthouse
Overview
Type	Light rail
System	TRAX
Status	Obsolete designation
Locale	Salt Lake City  United States
Termini	Delta Center/Arena (2001–2008) Salt Lake Central (2008–2011) Stadium (2001–2003) University Medical Center (2003–2011)
Stations	14
Operation
Opened	December 15, 2001[1]
Closed	August 6, 2011
Owner	Utah Transit Authority (UTA)
Operator(s)	UTA
Technical
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead catenary
Route number	UTA Route 702
Route diagram The FrontRunner: north to Ogden Salt Lake Central Old GreekTown Planetarium Arena (formerly called Delta Center) Temple Square City Center Gallivan Plaza ←     North/South Line (Route 701) ←     Sandy/University Line (Route 703) Library ↑ Free Fare Zone stations above this line ↑ Trolley 900 East Stadium University South Campus Fort Douglas University Medical Center

History

In April 2001, a three-week closure of the Sandy/Salt Lake line's northern portion, between Gallivan Plaza and Arena stations, in Downtown occurred when the switch at 400 South Main Street was built to accommodate the University Line's western turn into Downtown.[2] The first 2.3-mile (3.7 km) segment of the University Line opened on Saturday December 15, 2001 with service from the Delta Center to Rice-Eccles Stadium at a cost of $148.5 million, ahead of schedule and in time for the 2002 Winter Olympics, despite concerns that it would not be open in time.[1] The entire UTA network (TRAX and buses) was free to all riders on opening day.[1] The $89.4 million extension from Rice-Eccles Stadium to the University Medical Center opened in September 2003, a full 15 months ahead of schedule, adding 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of track and three new stations: University South Campus, Fort Douglas, and University Medical Center.[3]

Route description

The TRAX University Line was designated as UTA route 702.

Originally starting at the Delta Center (now Vivint Smart Home Arena) at South Temple Street and 300 West, the end of the line was extended several blocks to Salt Lake Central (Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub) in 2008, where it connects with the FrontRunner. The extension started at 250 South 600 West and proceeded north a half block to 200 South, stopping at Old GreekTown. The line then proceeded to 500 West and turned north and then east, stopping at the Arena (next to the Vivint Smart Home Arena). From the extension the route followed South Temple Street, turning south to Main Street. The line diverted at 400 South, heading east and ending its sharing of track with the Sandy/Salt Lake Line. Traveling on 400 South, trains would stop at Library, Trolley, and 900 East & 400 South before entering the University of Utah campus. Trains turned north at University Street, and then east at South Campus Drive and stopping at Stadium. The route continued on South Campus Drive to Wasatch Drive before stopping at University South Campus. Finally, it turned north at Wasatch Drive and followed that street to Fort Douglas and eventually terminating at University Medical Center, just south east of the Medical Center campus.

Stations

Station	Address[4]	Connections	Notes
Salt Lake Central (Salt Lake Intermodal Hub)	250 South 600 West	The FrontRunner Amtrak California Zephyr Greyhound Lines	Terminus
Old GreekTown	200 South 500 West	Sandy/Salt Lake Line
Planetarium	200 South 400 West	Sandy/Salt Lake Line
Arena	301 West South Temple	Sandy/Salt Lake Line	Formerly Delta Center Former teminus
Temple Square	132 West South Temple	Sandy/Salt Lake Line
City Center	100 South Main Street	Sandy/Salt Lake Line
Gallivan Plaza	300 South Main Street	Sandy/Salt Lake Line
Library	225 East 400 South		Last station within the Free Fare Zone
Trolley	625 East 400 South
900 East & 400 South	875 East 400 South
Stadium	1349 East 500 South		Former terminus until Medical Center extension completed
University South Campus	1790 East South Campus Drive
Fort Douglas	200 South Wasatch Drive (now Mario Capecchi Drive)
University Medical Center	10 North Medical Drive (now Mario Capecchi Drive)		Terminus

References

1. Culler, Leah. "All aboard (Saturday) for U. TRAX". Deseret News. Google News Archives. pp. B3. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
2. Van Eyck, Zack (April 27, 2001). "TRAX will stop short for 3 weeks". Deseret News. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
3. Fattah, Geoffrey (September 30, 2003). "UTA extends TRAX line to U. med center". Deseret News. FindArticles. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
4. TRAX & FrontRunner Map (Map). Utah Transit Authority. 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2009.