UTA to get $10M in federal funds for TRAX expansion

The Utah Transit Authority will receive $10 million in federal money to expand light rail to Draper, according to an announcement from Sen. Bob Bennett's office Thursday.

The money, which was included in a bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, will go to the Federal Transit Administration, which will eventually disperse it to UTA when planning progresses for the expansion of TRAX from 10000 South in Sandy to 12000 South in Draper, UTA spokesman Gerry Carpenter said.

UTA has completed an environmental impact statement and has submitted it to the federal government for review, Carpenter said. In October or November, the statement will be released to the public for comment.

After public commenting, UTA may revise the statement and begin additional studies of the expansion and preliminary engineering work.

The $10 million will be spent on engineering, design and purchasing rights of way.

— Laura Hancock