Residents opposing a TRAX line down 600 West

Residents of Salt Lake City's west side are ramping up efforts to stop the city from moving part of the route for the airport TRAX line from 400 West to 600 West.

Wednesday, they told the city Planning Commission that such a move would increase crime and traffic and create another barrier between east- and west-side neighborhoods. Residents are now moving forward with a letter and e-mail opposition campaign, displaying lawn signs and maintaining contact with city officials.

"The big thing right now is that we can't let our momentum die," Tiffany Sandberg, secretary/treasurer of the Fairpark Community Council, said Friday. "We need to keep going."

A second hearing with the Planning Commission is scheduled for Sept. 26, but no action on the issue is expected until October. Any decision made by the Planning Commission would be sent to the Salt Lake City Council for a final vote.

Residents are hopeful the city will listen to their concerns and not move the TRAX route.

"This is going to kill our dreams and blight our neighborhood," resident Terry Hurst said at Wednesday's Planning Commission meeting.

Earlier this year, UTA began studying whether to move a segment of the airport TRAX line from 400 West to 600 West. The study was prompted by things such as the Salt Lake Intermodal Hub and new business developments in the area, UTA spokesman Chad Saley said.

In 1999, when UTA first decided to run a portion of the airport line down 400 South, the hub and some developments were just being planned, according to Saley. But now UTA, as well as owners of The Gateway shopping mall, are recommending it be shifted to run down 600 West.

The Gateway is located west of 400 West, and owners say a route down that road would box in three sides of the mall. UTA officials say 600 West would allow the agency to connect the line to the intermodal hub, where commuter rail and other TRAX lines will soon converge.

If run down either road, the TRAX line would eventually connect with North Temple and then run west to Salt Lake City International Airport.

Saley said UTA is aware of residents' concerns, but his agency must balance the needs of residents with the needs of all UTA riders. Nonetheless, he believes Salt Lake City will "try to make what is the best decision for the community at large."

For information about the airport TRAX line, log on to: www.rideuta.com. Residents have created a Web site at: no600west.com.

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