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Show UTA expands service light-ra-il FrontRunner commuter rail to open April 26 Denise Wayman StaffWriter Construction to your left, gas prices to the right. The areas put an entirely different meaning to the nnt -- c concept of survival. Some may find that they are strong enough to handle driving between two semis in the narrow pass at night, but when one wakes up to gas along prices moving toward four dollars per gallon they may begin to looking for new means to survive. 1-- nT,---n . nfi - , f I I I i I , - If tO x. fs. tv b t i W t I I ... " 0 fW n-n J.g--v till till. r r- T-ff?a5r- 15 Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is charging forward with transportation projects that will change the way residents travel to work, school, recreation and beyond. The plans stand to shift the way residents move within the city and through construction, and look to reduce the amount of gas consumed in the valley. - . I i 11f A i K fi 1 i 1 , . i 1 1 ' 1 af i think I will start using it once they get the TRAX station right next to my house. It will be so "I nice." Shannon Roden After confusing pedestrians and delaying traffic, the construction cones lining the roads neighboring the Intermodal Hub TRAX near the Gateway will be removed. The new line is to open April 26, and will connect the Arena Station at 300 West and 100 South to the FrontRunner commuter rail project at 600 West and 250 South. UTA built 38 miles of new track for FrontRunner, a commuter rail train, tunning just east of the Union Pacific Railroad track. This route runs to Pleasant View at Highway 89. base FrontRunner will cost $2.50 for a one-wfare. An additional $.50 fee for each extra station may be applied, up to $5.50. FrontRunner fares are also transferable to TRAX and bus service. ay , - "hr . ti7 T 4 5 A L-..- .. Stj -- I- TRAX construction around the Gateway almost -- If f3L-- G tr - Photo by Michael Manning is complete. UTA expects 5,900 riders on opening day and predicts 12,600 daily riders by 2025. To handle this large number of people, the FrontRunner uses Bomcab cars that hold more than 200 bardier el people each. The line will run from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. bi-lev- Saturday. FrontRunner North is one of many projects UTA is moving forward with. Planning or construction and are in place for the airport, Draper, FrontRunner West Valley TRAX lines, the South, 35th Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Provo-OreBRT, West Valley Intermodal, and Salt Lake Intermodal TRAX. There was also a study done for Transit Corridor Alternatives in Sugar House. The Sugar House Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis began in January 2007. The purpose of the Mid-Jorda- m n, analysis is to evaluate transit alternatives for the area and from TRAX to between 1700 South and 1300 East. At the end of the analysis, UTA will de1-- 80 termine a locally preferred transit alternative identified for further study. At this point there are no set plans to put in action. can't believe how expensive gas is, but TRAX doesn't go where I need it to. If TRAX came near my house I would use it every day." "I Mike Christofferson The changes in transportation availability look to change the way many residents currently travel. Rising gas prices make it more difficult to for some to afford driving long distances, and some students say they do not use TRAX because it doesnt conveniently take them to the places they need to be. I cant believe how expensive gas is, but TRAX doesnt go where I need it to, said Mike Christofferson, a Salt Lake City resident who does not live near the new line. If TRAX came near my house I would use it every day. Shannon Roden, who resides near projected development, said otherwise. I think I will start using it once they get the TRAX station right next to my house, Roden said. It will be so nice. FrontRunner Stations Salt Lake Intermodal Hub Station 250 South 600 West Woods Cross Station, 700 South 800 West Farmington Station, 450 North 850 West Layton Station, 500 South Main Street Clearfield Station, 1250 South State Street Roy Station, 2675 Sandridge Dr. (approximately 4100 South 2400 West) Ogden Station, 2350 South Wall Avenue Pleasant View Station, 2700 North Highway 89 VOLUME XU: ISSUE 15 K sw'Ji t H t |