TRAX is back.
UTA re-opened the north-south line into downtown Wednesday afternoon, after three weeks of stopping at 4th South.
It's a big deal for people who ride TRAX into downtown, and for businesses along Main Street who want people to ride downtown.
Crews were working on the project up until the last minute, laying concrete, sweeping and scraping pavement.
For three weeks the line stopped at 4th South so a connection could be built to the new east-west line.
Finally, just after 3:00 Wednesday afternoon, a group of dignitaries boarded the train to ride it across 4th South.
Among those on board was the new Federal Transportation Administrator.
The line will now be open permanantly all the way to the Delta Center.
And there is also good news about the progress of the line that will run to the Univeristy of Utah. Wednesday's milestone means the second of three phases of construction is over.
Kris McBride/UTA Spokesman: "LIGHT RAIL WILL START TO TAKE FORM ON 400 AND 500 SOUTH. THERE WILL BE MORE TRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, THE STATIONS WILL START TO GO UP. THE ROADWAY WILL BE COMPLETED WITH CONCRETE AND ASPHALT IN THREE TO FOUR WEEKS IN DIFFERENT SECTIONS."
UTA is also expecting 10 new trains for the east-west line to arrive this week.
Many businesses on Main Street are relieved to have the passengers back on such a popular train.
Businesses along 4th South are hoping to share in that enthusiasm when the new line opens.
The re-opening does not mean construction at 4th South and Main is done yet, but it is done enough to run the train across it. And UTA is still insisting that east-west line will be open in November.
