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Utah Transit Authority's TRAX Draper Line

This page was last updated on August 17, 2013.

Overview

The Draper TRAX Line is a 3.8 mile extension of the UTA Sandy-Salt Lake Line from its current terminus at 10000 South in Sandy to Pioneer Road and 1300 East in Draper. The Draper TRAX extension is being built in the UTA-owned rail corridor, and will feature new stations at Crescent View (11400 South), Kimball Lane (11800 South), and Pioneer Road (12300 South).

Construction was begun in January 2011, and was completed and opened to the public in August 2013.

Timeline

[most recent entry first]

August 18, 2013
Service started on the UTA Draper TRAX line on Sunday August 18, 2013. On August 16, 2013, opening ceremonies were held for the Draper Line, with free rides for the public on Saturday August 17, prior to the official opening on August 18. (Progressive Railroading, August 15, 2013; Salt Lake Tribune, August 16, 2013)

The Draper TRAX Line began regular service on Sunday, August 18 as part of the existing Blue Line, extending the Blue Line south from 10000 South in Sandy, to Draper Town Center, a distance of 3.8 miles. The extended line was designed to help shorten commute times in the southeast corner of the valley and allow Sandy and Draper residents to connect to the rest of the UTA rail system.

Draper Historic Rail Car

January 22, 2013
A historic rail car was placed in its location at Draper Town Center station on January 22, 2013, to commemorate the history of Draper. The car is painted in an historic design that matches the color and lettering used on the original cars that were lettered for Utah Poultry Producers Cooperative Association, and the slogan "Milk White Eggs."

The story of Draper and its "Milk-White Eggs" is told at the historical rail car display built at the Draper Town Center Park-and-Ride. Preliminary preparations were under way in late October 2012 for the historic rail car exhibit, with an actual refrigerated rail car from the period is being transported from Kanab, Utah as the centerpiece of the exhibit, which also will include a water tower with a message welcoming people to Draperville.

Draper was founded in 1849 by Scottish immigrant Ebenezer Howard. The town was named Draperville after William Draper, who had moved here with Howard, and was also the first LDS Elder in the area. The community later became known as the "Egg Basket of America" and shipped "milk white eggs" all over the country. Cooperation between Utah State University and Utah Poultry Producers refined the White Leghorn chickens to begin production of white eggs as early as 1910. By the 1920s, "milk white" eggs became a national trend among the best big-city restaurants, as well as consumers who were willing to pay more for the perfect egg from Utah. Draper Poultrymen were also the first to send "next day" eggs by express rail to New York City which proved to be very profitable.

Early December 2012
UTA announced that the Draper Line was "substantially complete." Formal testing and training of operators, along with approval by Federal Transit Administration inspectors will be accomplished beginning in February 2013. The line is expected to be opened to the public in August 2013.

There were several locations where safety features, such as handrails, sidewalks and markings needed to be completed, along with landscaping that had not yet been completed.

April 2012
A horse and pedestrian underpass was installed below the tracks at 10200 South, as part of the fill across Dimple Dell, to allow horses and riders, pedestrians and bike riders to pass below the Draper Line.

December 12, 2011
UTA and Draper City held a ceremony marking the 50 percent completion of the Draper Line. All the the track had been laid, but additional ballast work was needed, as well as allowing the track to settle and become stable enough for safe operation. The track structure will require several vertical and horizontal alignments to ensure that it is set and stable for operation. Construction of the overhead power lines was progressing. One of the new low-floor cars was carefully moved along the new track for display during the ceremony. (UTA Draper Line weekly email update, dated December 16, 2011)

November 2011
Although most of the track was not yet laid, during the week of November 21, 2011, work began to tie the new Draper Line into the existing line at 9800 South.

July 22, 2011
"Crews will begin setting ties and laying track to 12300 South." (UTA Draper Line weekly email update, dated July 22, 2011)

March 22, 2011
"The existing rail, ties and other equipment are being removed from the corridor for salvage. After the existing track is removed, crews will begin relocating utilities such as electricity, telephone, natural gas, irrigation and water lines. Major construction of the new track should begin in spring 2011." "Crews are working on concrete foundations for the stations at 11400 South and 11800 South." (UTA Draper Line weekly email update, dated March 22, 2011)

Mid January 2011
Construction of UTA's Draper Line began in mid January 2011, with the closure of Vista Way at 11400 South to allow crews to begin work on improvements to irrigation and storm drains that would be affected by the new line at 11400 South. Additional crews began tree and brush removal and installation of a new box culvert at Dry Creek (approximately 10200 South). (UTA Draper Line weekly email update, dated January 14, 2011)

Other preliminary construction activities during January and February 2011 included tree removal along the rail corridor between 11000 South and 10600 South, and relocations of gas, power, telephone and cable lines by third parties, and installation of a new box culvert at Dry Creek (approximately 10200 South).

September 2010
During the middle part of September 2010, the Federal Transit Administration accepted and approved the environmental impact statement filed by UTA for its TRAX Draper Extension. (Salt Lake Tribune, September 22, 2010, "this week")

November 29, 2008
UTA announced that the Draper route should be ready in early 2012, two years ahead of schedule. (Railway Gazette International, November 29, 2008)

October 22, 2007
Since the mid 1990s, Draper City had been expecting, and promoting the use of the former Union Pacific line for an extension of UTA's TRAX light rail line. A new "not in my backyard" movement, known as "Citizens for Responsible Transit," wanted a referendum by the community, and to have UTA study an alternate route along State Street. (Deseret News, October 12, 2007)

Citizens for Responsible Transit

Also in November 2006, a new citizens group known as Citizens for Responsible Transit was organized to force UTA to use an alternate route along State Street. At the time, members of the city council remarked that since UTA already owned the existing right of way, which was already historically approved for railroad operations, UTA did not need the city's permission to build and operate light rail trains. The upcoming vote was merely an opinion of the city council to approve UTA's plans, or reject light rail completely. If rejected, UTA would be able to use the funds set aside for the Draper extension for other projects. (Salt Lake Tribune, November 9, 2006)

Although they reportedly had over 800 signatures in November 2006, by the February 2007 deadline, the group had not been able to get the 1,526 certified signatures needed to put the issue on the November ballot. They missed the required amount by 122 signatures (1,444 vs. 1,526). In April 2007, the U. S. Third District court ruled that the asked-for referendum applied only to a law, not a resolution by a city council. In August 2007, the group filed an appeal with the Utah Supreme Court to hear the case, and overturn the district court's ruling. (Salt Lake Tribune, February 1, 2007; Deseret News, August 25, 2007)

The following timeline comes from the May 5, 2008 issue of Salt Lake Tribune:

Dec. 1992 -- Draper City Council recommends UTA purchase the Union Pacific rail to preserve a transportation corridor.

Jan. 1996 -- UTA and Draper sign an agreement to construct the Porter Rockwell Trail within the UTA right of way. An evaluation determines the trail could remain with a future light-rail system.

Dec. 2000 -- South Salt Lake County Transit Corridors analysis recommends a light-rail corridor in the UTA-owned right of way from 10000 South to 14600 South.

Dec. 2001 -- Wasatch Front Regional Council's long-range transportation plan update shows an extension of the existing light-rail line along the UTA-owned right of way from 10000 South to 14600 South.

Feb. 2004 -- UTA, five counties and 36 cities (including Draper), sign an interlocal agreement establishing use within UTA rights of way through each jurisdiction.

Oct. 2006 -- Draper's transit alternatives study recommends a light-rail extension from 10000 South to 14600 South along UTA's right of way.

Nov. 2006 -- Salt Lake County voters approve a quarter-of-a-cent sales-tax increase to fund transportation projects.

Jan. 2007 -- Citizens for Responsible Transportation (CRT) submit a petition to force a referendum vote on the proposed TRAX alignment at UTA's right of way. Draper later informs CRT they did not gather enough signatures, but CRT files suit saying the county inappropriately eliminated some signatures.

April 2007 -- 3rd District Judge Leon Dever rejects CRT's bid to overturn the planned TRAX route along UTA's right of way, saying a city resolution could not be challenged because it was an administrative, not a legislative, decision.

Aug. 2007 -- The Utah Supreme Court determines it will hear a CRT appeal.

Oct. 2007 -- UTA begins an Environmental Impact Statement necessary to acquire federal funding.

Nov. 2007 -- Draper elects three new City Council members, all of whom favored extending TRAX along UTA's right of way during the campaign.

May 6, 2008 -- Utah Supreme Court will hold a hearing to determine whether voters can cast ballot on the issue in a referendum vote.

On July 11, 2008, the Utah Supreme Court ruled on the issue, saying, that the decision was administrative, not legislative, and thus not subject to the ballot box. "The determinative test of whether an action is administrative or legislative is whether it creates new law or whether it is an implementation or execution of existing law," wrote Chief Justice Christine Durham. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 11, 2008, "today")

December 22, 2006
Salt Lake County Commission approved the use of tax dollars to help build UTA's TRAX Mid-Jordan and Draper lines. (Deseret Morning News, December 22, 2006)

November 3, 2006
UTA had advised that, since the agency already owned the former Union Pacific line, and any alternate route would require purchasing land and demolishing existing homes and businesses. The Draper City Council was to vote on November 14 to either accept the existing and preferred route, or not having any light rail service. (Salt Lake Tribune, November 3, 2006)

January 30, 2002
Draper City Council sent a letter to UTA, advising the agency that the city's leaders preferred the former Union Pacific line as the route for the planned extension of TRAX light rail. (Deseret News, January 30, 2002)

March 31, 1993
Union Pacific sold a portion of its right-of-way between Salt Lake City and Provo to the Utah Transit Authority as part of its planned operation of light rail along the Wasatch Front. The actual trackage and railroad right-of-way involved includes the former Union Pacific route from 900 South in Salt Lake City south to the county line between Salt Lake County and Utah County. UTA also purchased the rights to first refusal on the UP line from the county line south to Lindon, Utah, in Utah County. Also included in the sale to UTA was the Dahl Spur, which runs west from the former UP tracks, under the Southern Pacific (former D&RGW) tracks and Interstate 15, to the west side of Midvale, at the former location of the abandoned smelter of the United States Smelting, Refining & Mining Company, later known as Sharon Steel Company. UTA acquired this trackage because of the existing access under the Interstate, saving them from having to fund such an underpass in the future. There was also some existing rail business at the end of the spur. To ensure continuous and seamless freight service to those customers, UTA negotiated an operating lease for its new rail property with Railtex Corporation, an operator of small, shortline railroads nationwide. The Railtex operating lease went into effect concurrent with the March 31, 1993 sale of the UP line to UTA. (Telephone conversation with Bruce Barnes at Utah Transit Authority, August 1994.)

December 31, 1992
ICC approved UTA's acquisition of UP's Provo Sub between 900 South in Salt Lake City, and Mount, at the line between Salt Lake County and Utah County. (ICC Finance Docket 32186)

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