DRAPER — Fearing that neighboring cities will have light-rail service before them, city leaders have decided to aggressively pursue a southern extension of TRAX.
The City Council has approved a resolution, which will be forwarded to the Utah Transit Authority, describing its preferred alignment of a TRAX line. Like much of the north-south line, the alignment would follow an existing railroad right of way.
"We're serious about light rail coming to our city," said Councilman Bill Colbert, who sponsored the resolution.
By approving the resolution, council members hope that UTA does not forget about the county's southernmost cities while building more TRAX lines. Colbert said that even with the quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters last year, transit officials have not looked much toward Draper.
"I do have concerns about UTA's commitment to Draper," Colbert said. "There is a growing concern about UTA not serving this area."
Staying with the existing right of way — which starts at about 300 East on Draper's north end, moves east to about 1300 East, and then follows the base of Traverse Ridge — would touch most of the primary commercial and business districts within Draper, Colbert said. Stops could conceivably serve the Skaggs Catholic Center, historic downtown, South Mountain and the future Southpointe development.
Part of the concern is efforts by other cities already ahead of Draper to get lines, especially a planned west-side spur that is undergoing environmental studies. Funding for that study is being supplied by five western Salt Lake County cities.
A recent purchase of Union Pacific rails does send a signal that UTA plans to extend TRAX through Draper. The preferred alignment is along those rails.
Although a resolution specifying the preferred alignment is not a necessary step to getting light rail, it will be beneficial when federal funding is sought, UTA spokesman Kris McBride said.
"It's a significant show of support for light rail," McBride said. "It demonstrates the priorities of the leaders."
The next planned TRAX construction is probably an extension of the University line to Primary Children's Hospital. After that, nothing has been decided by the Wasatch Front Regional Council, McBride said.
The City Council plans to continue its proactive approach toward getting a light-rail line, including possibly funding an environmental study and working closely with Sandy officials on the extension.
"With the passage of the sales tax, everyone expected to be next," Mayor Darrell Smith said. "That will not happen, so this is a more aggressive move."
Sandy officials have not made any formal proposals for an extension to the line, which currently ends at 10000 South. Currently, they are focusing more on trying to get an additional stop at 9400 South, and any plans for an extension would depend on how other cities planned their light-rail lines, planning spokesman Nick Duerksen said.
"We clearly would like to see it move farther into our civic center," Duerksen said. "Given the (South Towne Center) and the undeveloped property at 11400 South, we do recognize the benefits of moving it south."
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