Monday's morning commute will be a bit different in Salt Lake City.
It will be the rush-hour debut of the new east-west TRAX line, heading from Main Street to the University of Utah.
News Specialist Richard Piatt has this 'night-before' preview for people who aren't sure what to expect.
One of the Capitol City's busiest streets already looks different:
Gone are the endless sea of construction barricades--it's now wide open for both cars and trains.
But UTA officials admit: They're apprehensive about Monday's rush-hour.
TRAX is already packed at key times on its north-south line.
They can't help but wonder how crowded the line to the University will be.
Passengers will be asked to transfer trains at the Gallivan Plaza stop, depending on which way they're going.
The Gallivan Plaza stop will be a transfer point from the north-south line to the east-west line, and back again.
UTA is experimenting with one train where no transfer is required. It will be clearly marked.
Drivers on 4th South will notice some new things, too:
Traffic lights will operate in a slightly different pattern--left turn arrows may NOT always come first.
The reason is the timing of the trains.
John Njord/executive Director, UDOT: IT DOESN'T PRE-EMPT THE SIGNAL, BUT IT GIVES IT PREFERENCE. THERE'S PREFERENCE FOR THE LIGHT RAIL TRAIN AS IT TRAVELS DOWN FOURTH SOUTH SO IT CAN MAKE AS MANY OF THE GREEN LIGHTS AS IT CAN.
At several intersections, additional left turn lanes have been added that are actually on the tracks themselves.
UTA has blocked most of those off temporarily, however.
John Inglish/Utah Transit Authority: WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHAT TRAFFIC VOLUMES ARE LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN LEAVE IT THAT WAY. WE'D PREFER NOT TO HAVE CARS WAITING ON THE TRACKS FOR LEFT TURNS.
Richard Piatt, Eyewitness News, Reporting: PARKING IS ANOTHER ISSUE UTA MAY HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH LATER. THERE IS NO MORE STREET PARKING ALONG 4TH SOUTH.
AND SOME BUSINESSSE ARE WORRIED THEIR LOTS WILL BECOME MAKE-SHIFT 'PARK AND RIDE LOTS' FOR U OF U COMMUTERS. THIS WEEK, THOUGH, UTA IS KEEPING IT SIMPLE: FOCUSED ON MOVING PEOPLE, NOT PARKED CARS. RICHARD PIATT EYEWITNESS NEWS.
UTA bought 10 new trains for the University line, which means UTA owns 33 TRAX trains.
The agency is also looking at buying additional trains to help ease the crowding on trains during peak times.
Dec. 16, 2001
