University Line (TRAX)

University Line
A University train near the Frank E. Moss Federal Courthouse
Overview
Type	Light rail
System	UTA Trax
Status	Obsolete designation
Locale	Salt Lake City  United States
Termini	Delta Center/Arena (2001–2008) Salt Lake Central (2008–2011) Stadium (2001–2003) University Medical Center (2003–2011)
Stations	14
Operation
Opened	15 December 2001[1]
Closed	6 August 2011
Owner	Utah Transit Authority (UTA)
Operator(s)	UTA
Technical
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead catenary
Route number	UTA Route 702
Route diagram The FrontRunner: north to Ogden Salt Lake Central Old GreekTown Planetarium Arena (formerly called Delta Center) Temple Square City Center Gallivan Plaza ←     North/South Line (Route 701) ←     Sandy/University Line (Route 703) Library ↑ Free Fare Zone stations above this line ↑ Trolley 900 East Stadium University South Campus Fort Douglas University Medical Center

The University Line is an obsolete designation to a light rail line of Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) TRAX system in Salt Lake City. It was the second TRAX line opened by UTA, after the Sandy/Salt Lake Line opened in 1999. The original line ran from the Delta Center (now Arena) Station to the Stadium Station, which is west of the Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus. The eastern end of the line was extended to the University Medical Center Station in 2003, and the western end was extended in 2008 to the new Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub (Salt Lake Central). The University Line continued running under that name through 6 August 2011, after which this designation was no longer used following a system redesign. The University of Utah is now served by the Red Line.

History

In April 2001, a three-week closure of the Sandy/Salt Lake line's northern portion, between Gallivan Plaza and Arena stations, in Downtown occurred when the switch at 400 South Main Street was built to accommodate the University Line's western turn into Downtown.^[2] The first 2.3-mile (3.7 km) segment of the University Line opened on Saturday 15 December 2001 with service from the Delta Center to Rice-Eccles Stadium at a cost of $148.5 million, ahead of schedule and in time for the 2002 Winter Olympics, despite concerns that it would not be open in time.^[1] The entire UTA network (TRAX and buses) was free to all riders on opening day.^[1] The $89.4 million extension from Rice-Eccles Stadium to the University Medical Center opened in September 2003, a full fifteen months ahead of schedule, adding 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of track and three new stations: University South Campus, Fort Douglas, and University Medical Center.^[3]

Route description

The TRAX University Line was designated as UTA route 702.

Originally starting at the Delta Center (now EnergySolutions Arena) at South Temple Street and 300 West, the end of the line was extended several blocks to Salt Lake Central (Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub) in 2008, where it connects with the FrontRunner. The extension started at 250 South 600 West and proceeded north a half block to 200 South, stopping at Old GreekTown. The line then proceeded to 500 West and turned north and then east, stopping at the Arena (next to the EnergySolutions Arena). From the extension the route followed South Temple Street, turning south to Main Street. The line diverted at 400 South, heading east and ending its sharing of track with the Sandy/Salt Lake Line. Traveling on 400 South, trains would stop at Library, Trolley, and 900 East & 400 South before entering the University of Utah campus. Trains turned north at University Street, and then east at South Campus Drive and stopping at Stadium. The route continued on South Campus Drive to Wasatch Drive before stopping at University South Campus. Finally, it turned north at Wasatch Drive and followed that street to Fort Douglas and eventually terminating at University Medical Center, just south east of the Medical Center campus.

Stations

References