City officials agree to streetcar rail line development

On Dec. 7, another milestone was reached in the development of a local streetcar rail line when the South Salt Lake City Council voted to approve an inter-local agreement between the city, Utah Transit Authority and Salt Lake City.

The inter-local agreement is the final stop in the process before a contractor is selected and construction work could begin on the project.

South Salt Lake City Public Works Director Dennis Pay said preliminary construction could begin as early as April to build the line along the northern border of the city at 2100 South.

During the first phase of construction, crews would start the process of excavating the rail line and moving any utilities in the right-of-way.

When completed, the streetcar line will connect the business districts in South Salt Lake and Sugar House along a west to eastward route built in the historic Sugar House Spur rail corridor.

Commuters will also be able to transfer from the streetcar line to the north-south TRAX line running from Salt Lake City through Sandy, and later further south when the Draper segment of TRAX is completed in a couple of years.

As part of the inter-local agreement, South Salt Lake City would share the costs of building the streetcar line.

According to the terms of the agreement approved by city officials, South Salt Lake City would contribute $5 million to the project, Salt Lake City would spend $6.18 million and UTA would foot about $1.6 million of the costs.

The three entities would also split operation and maintenance costs.

The bulk of the project will be funded with federal grant money. Last year, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that the streetcar project would be given $26 million in funding.

Salt Lake City officials were expected vote on whether to accept the terms of the inter-local agreement on Dec. 13, after press time.

The end of the streetcar line on the north-west side of South Salt Lake at the UTA TRAX station at 2100 South is bordered by a local business district within the boundaries of 2100 South, I-215, State Street and Main Street.

The area, known as Market Station, is currently the focus of city leaders’ efforts to revitalize the area.

City officials are encouraging redevelopment through an attempt to attract new business with tax incentives.

South Salt Lake City Councilmember Irvin Jones called the completion of the streetcar and upcoming development in the surrounding areas a “city-changing event.”

“It’ll be really exciting,” Jones said. “[But] the streetcar line will be done before Market Station has reached its potential.”

The streetcar line could be completed by 2013.