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John Daley ReportingRidership on the Wasatch Front's light rail line keeps picking up steam. Two years after the opening of the University TRAX line the numbers continue to grow.
A lot of folks have been noticing the trains seem plenty full these days, especially when there's a big event going on downtown. We checked with UTA and indeed, TRAX is on a roll.
Aubrey Powell, Salt Lake City Resident: "I take it to work, to school. I don't have to pay very much because I'm a student. It's just really nice, very quick, always on time, very reliable, and I just love it!"
Despite gloomy predictions from opponents years ago, this light rail system is no train in vain. Consider the numbers: a 17% increase in overall riders from this year compared to last, weekday ridership over that period is up 33%, and Saturdays TRAX is seeing a 51% increase.
Justin Jones, UTA Spokesman: "People are using it a lot more and we appreciate that. That's good, that's good for downtown."
People are taking the train for a variety of reasons: the new library, a successful football team at the U, and plenty of civic activities. TRAX has been so popular UTA can't build the new lines fast enough.
The two-year anniversary of the University line is a week from now. The original projections were that this line would get 4,000 to 4,500 hundred riders a day. Instead it sees 11,500 riders a day--more than double the projection.
