UTA receives $37 million in early payments for TRAX, commuter rail
Written by jrood
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff said that Utah would receive $37 million in advanced payments for two rail projects funded under its New Starts grants program.
The Utah Transit Authority will receive
$20.623 million for the Mid-Jordan TRAX light rail project and $16.5 million
for the FrontRunner Salt Lake City to Ogden commuter rail line. Both amounts
are early reimbursement for construction work already completed. The payments
represent federal dollars previously committed to the projects under full
funding grant agreements.
"These advance payments are deeply
appreciated and come at a time when they can be the most helpful," said Michael
Allegra, UTA general manager. "By freeing up local funds, it allows us apply
more resources toward completing our other rail projects."
The Mid-Jordan line is a 10.6-mile
light rail line that will connect to the existing Sandy/Salt Lake TRAX line at
6400 South (Fashion Place). The total project cost is $535.4 million, with a
federal New Starts share of $428.3 million. The new line is scheduled to
begin operation in August 2011.
FrontRunner Salt Lake City to Ogden is
a 44-mile, eight-station commuter rail line that began service in April 2008.
The project cost a total of $611.7 million, with a federal New Starts Share of
$489.4 million.
Other UTA projects currently under
construction include light rail extensions to the Salt Lake City International
Airport, West Valley City, and Draper, and a 45-mile extension of commuter rail
from Salt Lake City to Provo.
