The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will provide $116 million to extend the Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) TRAX light rail transit service from downtown Salt Lake City into the suburb of Draper.
The 3.8-mile extension is the final project in a seven-year, 70-mile effort to significantly expand transit options for residents and commuters in the Salt Lake City area, one of the nation’s fastest growing cities.
The Draper Light Rail Project, a 3.8-mile extension of UTA’s current TRAX service, will add jobs to the 3,100 construction-related jobs already created. The project, which includes three new stations with park-and-ride-facilities, will run parallel to the heavily traveled Interstate 15 corridor and make it easier for suburban residents to commute to jobs in Salt Lake City.
The total cost for the Draper extension project is $194 million. Construction is already under way and expected to be completed in December 2013.
The extension of TRAX service to Draper is the final project in UTA’s Frontlines 2015 Program, a $2.9 billion program to build 70 miles of rail in seven years and place a major transit stop within reach of every resident in the UTA service area. Four new light rail lines, one new commuter rail line and a new light rail maintenance facility will more than double UTA’s existing rail system. Including today’s funding announcement, FTA has committed approximately $570 million in total to the Frontlines 2015 Program, including $25 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Utah Transit lands $116M for light rail extension
Will fund the Draper Light Rail Project, a 3.8-mile extension of agency’s current TRAX service. The project includes three new stations with park-and-ride-facilities, and will run parallel to the heavily traveled Interstate 15 corridor and make it easier for suburban residents to commute to jobs in Salt Lake City.
More Rail

Amtrak Marks Restoration of Two South Carolina Stations
The Denmark Station $2.3 million construction investment project includes a new 280-foot concrete boarding platform, built eight inches above the top of rail, for improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities and families with small children and much more.
Read More →
NJ Transit, Amtrak Prepare to Open First Track on New Portal North Bridge
The new bridge will begin carrying passenger trains on March 16, replacing a 116-year-old swing bridge that has long caused delays.
Read More →
Caltrain Adopts Corridor-Wide Right-of-Way Safety Strategy
Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.
Read More →
Building a National Framework for Transit Safety and Consistency
On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
Read More →
FTA Invests $686M to Modernize Aging Rail Stations
Competitive FTA grants will support accessibility upgrades, family-friendly improvements, and cost-efficient capital projects at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest transit hubs.
Read More →
MBTA Updates Rail Modernization Plan to Expand Reliability and Accessibility
The strategy outlines near- and long-term upgrades to ease congestion, support housing growth, and advance statewide climate goals.
Read More →
LA Metro Sets D Line Subway Extension Launch Date
The 3.92-mile addition will soon take riders west beyond its current Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, continuing under Wilshire Boulevard through neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle into Beverly Hills.
Read More →
Boston's MBTA Marks Progress in Regional Rail Modernization
The procurement advances the agency's broader efforts to modernize its rail fleet and position Regional Rail for long-term improvement.
Read More →
Amtrak Sets New Course for Long-Distance Fleet Renewal
Under the plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.
Read More →
STV Finalizes Design for First Phase of TriMet MAX Blue Line Substation Upgrades
The milestone is a significant step toward modernizing the MAX Blue Line’s power infrastructure, one of the oldest components of the region’s light rail system.
Read More →
