WASHINGTON — Congress gave final approval Tuesday for $45 million for Utah transportation projects, including money to extend the TRAX light-rail system from Rice-Eccles Stadium to the University of Utah Medical Center.
The money was included in the 2002 Transportation Appropriations Act. Both houses of Congress approved changes negotiated by a House-Senate conference, and sent it to President Bush.
The bill includes $14 million for ongoing construction of the light rail from the center of Salt Lake City up 400 South to Rice-Eccles Stadium. It also contains $3 million to help extend the line farther to the University Medical Center.
The news came as TRAX service celebrated its two-year anniversary Tuesday. The line opened Dec. 6, 1999 and has served an average of 19,000 riders per day — 5,000 more than originally projected.
The first leg of the university light-rail extension that goes along 400-500 South to Rice Eccles Stadium is scheduled to open Dec. 15.
Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, requested that money and said, "It is safe to say the demand for TRAX is there and that this light-rail extension will be a welcomed addition to the system."
He said the extension will "go a long way to ease congestion near the U. of U. campus and medical center, one of our busiest traffic areas."
UTA spokesman Kris McBride said this approval is one of the first times UTA has had both the House and Senate's support. But it doesn't mean UTA is guaranteed the money.
"They're not going to hand us a check for $3 million," said Steve Greene, manager of engineering and construction for UTA.
Instead, Greene said Congress has recognized this is an important project. Real funding will come in the way of a full-funding agreement from the Federal Transit Administration, which Greene said UTA will most likely get approval of in January or February.
Congress' approval, McBride said, "will help us in our quest with FTA to get the full-funding grant agreement."
Designers have already begun working on the extension, which is a design/build project similar to the university line. Because of the Olympics, no actual construction will take place until mid-April, Greene said.
The 1.5-mile extension will run east along South Campus Drive, then turn north onto Wasatch Drive. The road then meanders to the northeast and becomes Medical Drive.
Other Utah funding in the bill includes:
$7 million for ongoing Salt Lake International Airport improvement projects. Bennett said, "Upgrades are essential as we prepare to welcome the world next year (for the Olympics) and address the dramatic increase in traffic and visitation."
$1 million for a rail line from Sigurd/Salina to the Union Pacific main line at Levan, Juab County, to help haul coal.
$5 million for transportation systems for athletes, spectators, media and other officials associated with the Paralympic Games.
$1 million for Utah Transit Authority intermodal terminals.
$560,000 for Utah Intelligence Transportation Systems.
$500,000 for Utah Transit Authority and Park City Transit buses.
$5 million to the Utah Department of Transportation for reimbursement of the I-15 reconstruction project.
$3 million for intermodal transportation centers.
$2 million for reconstruction of I-15 from the Sevier River to Mills Junction.
$1 million for the Arches National Park main entrance relocation.
$1 million for U-153 at Beaver Junction.
$250,000 for a new access road to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge destroyed by floods in early 1980s.
Contributing: Leah L. Culler
E-mail: lee@desnews.com