The Utah Agency collects the preferred route for the Salt Lake City light railway expansion

The Utah Transit Authority recently selected a preferred alternative for its plan to build a fourth line for its Light Lake Valley Trax Light Railway System. UTA estimates that it will cost $ 400 million to build.

The proposed orange line would take place between Salt Lake City International Airport and Utah University’s Research Park, adding service capacity, eight new stations and 2.8 miles of track to the system.

UTA selected this route at the conclusion of its Techlink Trax study, which examined several options, including one that would have required the construction of an elevated track section. Officials found that the preferred route would have the lowest capital costs and its estimated increase of $ 17 million in annual operations and maintenance costs is also the lowest of the options considered. It would also reduce travel time compared to other routes and reduced environmental impacts by sharing some sections of track with other trax lines.

The favored route would include 2.8 kilometers of new track. Map courtesy of Utah Transit Authority

The proposed route would follow the existing runways near the airport, as well as the alignment of the existing red line on 400 Street to the south. But the orange line would make a new route through some parts of the Center of Salt Lake City to serve three new stations and separate from the red line at its eastern end to serve two new stations and end in the Research Park.

As part of the project, UTA would also extend the red line further west by the new alignment planned for the orange line. It would then be divided to the south, serving three new stations before finding the green and blue lines at the Ballpark station.

Trax met more than 13.5 million riders last year, according to UTA. It marked an increase of 26.5% compared to 2023.

With the full study, the UTA plans to start the environmental review, which hopes to last up to two years. The Agency provides for a rupture ground by 2029 for the service to begin by 2032.

UTA usually finances capital projects with state and federal money, and an agency spokesman says they will explore all available financing routes.