Yet another light- rail project... is coming down the tracks.
With federal money, a near certainty ... work is set to begin, next month... on a TRAX extension, which will add 3- stops ... from the stadium at the University of Utah ... to the U's hospital complex.
The Utah Transit Authority plans to start construction next month--on the extension of the University line--which will head on up from here to the University hospital area.
UTA officials say they are now confident the federal government will pay 60 percent of the $90 million extension--confident enough to start work.
The UTA board was told yesterday that groundbreaking ceremonies are tentatively planned for April 19.
The plan calls for a 1.5 mile line.
It will run from the stadium up Campus Drive to the Huntsman Center--then up Medical Drive to the University Hospital complex.
The leader of the UTA says the line will provide a vital transportation link--particularly for students and hospital workers who live on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley--who will eventually be served by a new TRAX line to West Valley City.
John Inglish/UTA General Manager: "FIFTEEN PERCENT OF THE POPULATION ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE SALT LAKE COUNTY, INCLUDING WEST VALLEY CITY, COMMUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH EVERY DAY. THERE ARE OVER 9 THOUSAND SERVICE JOBS AT THE MEDICAL COMPLEX ALONE."
Inglish says he's expecting to get a letter late in May guaranteeing that federal money--will be coming to pay for the extenstion.
In the meantime--UTA wanted to get the work moving as quickly as possible to continue the momentum--and keep the experienced rail contractor which built the University line--from being diverted to other projects before work on this line could begin.
The project is expected to be completed in late 2004.
