UTA breaks ground for commuter rail line

The train is coming.

Five years after residents in Salt Lake, Davis and Weber counties voted to raise taxes to pay for commuter rail, officials with the Utah Transit Authority can say with confidence that a portion of the train system will be built.

Tuesday, UTA held a groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of commuter rail, planned to run 44 miles from Salt Lake City to Pleasant View in Weber County. The ceremony, held at the future commuter rail maintenance facility near 900 North, was a milestone — marking an end to lengthy studies and the beginning of real work, said John Inglish, UTA general manger.

"The easy part is now ahead of us, frankly," he said. "I feel good."

While the official groundbreaking was held Tuesday, work has already begun to clear ground for commuter rail. In Kaysville, construction crews began removing brush and weeds as early as July. Utilities in the rail corridor, which is adjacent to I-15, are being relocated.

By next spring, heavy construction work should begin on the project.

During speeches celebrating the start of the project, Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, praised the efforts of UTA, state and local government officials in pushing for commuter rail. He described the lengthy federal process of approving rail projects, something that includes a study of environmental impact.

UTA needs only one additional federal approval for commuter rail, called a full-funding grant agreement. The agreement outlines what percent of cost the federal government will pay for commuter rail.

The first phase of commuter rail is anticipated to cost about $500 million. It will be paid for through a mix of local and federal dollars.

Speaking at the groundbreaking, Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, said commuter rail will provide travel options to residents along the Wasatch Front. It is also important to economic development, mobility and quality of life, said Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

"For us to keep pace in terms of mobility . . . it means these projects are going to be increasingly important," the governor said. "Pat yourselves on the back, this is a great day for our state."

With increasing traffic on Utah freeways, transportation planners say transit options like commuter rail are needed to move people along the Wasatch Front. Over the next 25 years, UTA has plans to build several TRAX extensions, increase bus service and add a new form of transit called bus rapid transit.

Right-of-way is available to extend commuter rail north to Brigham City and as far south as Payson. Funding has yet to be approved for those extensions, something Inglish says will require local assistance in the form of a tax increase.