UTA reports on status of projects

The TRAX line to Salt Lake City International Airport is about 15 percent complete, according to Utah Transit Authority general manager John Inglish.

Inglish met with the Utah Transportation Commission, the governing body over the Utah Department of Transportation, last week and discussed progress on FrontLines 2015, which is UTA's program to build 70 miles of rail by 2015. Voters approved a tax increase to help UTA pay for the project.

State law requires UTA to meet periodically with the commission, although the law does not specify what should be discussed. Inglish focused mostly on positive happenings at UTA.

The Mid-Jordan line, a light-rail line that will run between the current TRAX Fashion Place station (6400 South) and the Daybreak community, is 40 percent complete.

FrontRunner South, a section of commuter-rail linking Salt Lake and Utah counties, is about 25 percent complete, Inglish said. Challenges to the line are some 25 bridges and 15 structures along its route.

The West Valley City TRAX line is 30 percent complete, and an intermodal hub is being constructed by city hall, Inglish said.

Construction has not started on the Draper TRAX line. UTA is still preparing an environmental-impact statement with the federal government, Inglish said.

For more information, visit www.rideuta.com/projects/frontlines2015/overview.aspx.

— Laura Hancock