A light-rail line between the Salt Lake International Airport and the University of Utah is a logical extension of the route already approved to bring commuters from south Salt Lake County to the downtown area.
But another logical route into Davis and Weber counties should not be forgotten in the rush to make traffic improvements to accommodate the 2002 Winter Olympics.There are several good reasons and one potentially good reason to give priority to the east-west line. There are also reasons to oppose it. There is really no opposition among light-rail advocates to extend the line northward, only a lack of money and the inadequate political clout of the north Utah counties.
The amount of traffic back and forth from downtown Salt Lake City to the university and to the airport is substantial and both are important destinations for travelers, especially those connected to the Olympics.
However, light rail from downtown to Sandy can be run on existing heavy-rail routes, while the east-west plan would require construction on neighborhood streets.
The possibility of receiving federal funds for the east-west route because of its connection to the Olympics is a reason to consider the plan seriously.
The Olympics will last two weeks, but commuter traffic from Davis and Weber counties will be with the state far into the future. Discussing transportation plans, the director of the Utah Department of Transportation wisely noted "nobody in Utah ever refers to the year 2003."
If the east-west line can be financed with federal funds that are available to support the Olympics, there should be no debate. The state should take the money and build the line. But if taxpayers are footing the bill, other priorities, including a line into the north counties, should be considered equally.