Transportation in Salt Lake City
Encyclopedia
Transportation in Salt Lake City consists of a wide network of roads, an extensive bus system, a light rail system, and a recently introduced commuter rail line. Although Salt Lake City is a traditionally car-oriented city (as are most other U.S. cities), the rapidly-growing public transit system has a high number of riders for a city of its size, and public transit is widely-supported by the populace.
All public transit in the city is operated by the Utah Transit Authority
. In addition to operating the bus system, they also operate the TRAX
light rail system, which contains two lines, one of which runs from downtown
south to Sandy
, and another of which runs east to the University of Utah
. A commuter rail line, called FrontRunner
, runs north to Ogden
. It was recently completed and is also run by the UTA. The road system is also extensive, with 3 interstate highways and an additional state freeway. However, the geographical constrictions of the valley, as well as its rapid growth, has led to severe congestion problems.
Two major interstate highways, Interstate 15 and Interstate 80, intersect just west of Downtown Salt Lake City
. I-15 comes in from Davis County
to the north and heads straight south through the Salt Lake Valley
. I-80 comes in from the west and passes Salt Lake City International Airport
before merging with I-15 west of Downtown. The merge continues for about 3 mi (5 km) before I-80 splits east again. It passes through largely residential areas through northern South Salt Lake
and the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City before entering Parley's Canyon
. Interstate 215
, known as the belt route, forms a 270° loop around Salt Lake City and its first-ring suburbs. It enters the Rose Park neighborhood in northwestern Salt Lake City from Davis County and continues south, intersecting I-80 and State Route 201 before turning east in Taylorsville
, intersecting I-15 in Murray
, and turning north in Holladay
. From there it parallels the Wasatch Range
through the affleunt residential eastern suburbs before ending at I-80 at the mouth of Parley's Canyon. This "belt route" largely serves as a commuter route for the suburbs. State Route 201, known locally as the "21st South Freeway" or as "201", is a freeway that heads westward from the southern I-80/I-15 split, known as the "Spaghetti Bowl", along the border of Salt Lake City and West Valley City
. This is a largely congested route that serves much of the west side commuter traffic. As it dips southward into Magna
, it is downgraded to an expressway, although it is eventually planned to be upgraded to a freeway as traffic from Tooele County
increases. It continues westward to I-80 near the Tooele County line. SR-201 serves as a commuter freeway for the westside of the valley and Tooele County, and also as an alternative to I-80 when needed. The 2002 Winter Olympics
prompted a massive overhaul of I-15, from 600 North in Salt Lake City to 10600 South in Sandy
. The interstate was expanded to 10 lanes, including 2 high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Portions of I-80 and I-215 were also reconstructed.
Other major roadways through the valley include State Street, which is the portion of US-89 that shoots arrow-straight through the valley from Downtown Salt Lake City to Sandy
, and Bangerter Highway (State Route 154), an expressway that begins at the airport and runs down the west side of the valley, serving the quickly-growing west and south sides of the valley. It curves east in Riverton
and Bluffdale
at the south end of the valley to connect with I-15 in Draper
.
Plans exist for a freeway to run the west side of the Salt Lake Valley. It is known as the Mountain View Corridor
and is part of the Legacy Highway
project. This freeway is expected to be completed sometime between 2015 and 2020, with construction beginning as soon as 2008. Several routes have been proposed, but the most likely to be approved is the 5600 West alternative. This freeway will serve the fast-growing communities located along the west and south sides of the valley, and also in northern Utah County
.
A light rail
system, known as Transit Express, but more commonly known as TRAX
, had also been planned for years. In anticipation of the 2002 Winter Olympics
, the system was approved in 1995. The first line began service on December 4, 1999 and currently links downtown with Sandy, and another line to the University of Utah was completed in 2001, with an extension to the University of Utah Health Sciences Center in 2003. The next TRAX line to be constructed will be the "Mid-Jordan" line, extending from Murray
and into Midvale
, West Jordan
, and South Jordan
. The Mid-Jordan Line is expected to be completed by 2012. Other light rail lines contemplated include an extension from Sandy into Draper
, from Downtown to the airport
, and from South Salt Lake
into West Valley City
. In the far future, light rail may also be extended into southern Davis County
and northern Utah County
.
FrontRunner
, a commuter rail system, was recently opened. By 2020, it is expected to extend from Brigham City
to Payson
, the approximate extents of the Wasatch Front. The first segment, between Salt Lake City and Pleasant View
, just north of Ogden
, began construction on August 10, 2005 and was opened on April 26, 2008. FrontRunner was finally extended to Pleasant View on September 29, 2008.
UTA also runs the bus
system in Salt Lake. The bus system reaches almost everywhere within Salt Lake City, and many points in the valley
and beyond, serving the entire length of the Wasatch Front
. Other services provided by UTA include a paratransit
service, which has curbside pickup for disabled riders, express buses running between Salt Lake City and its major suburbs, and winter service to the ski resorts in the Wasatch Range
.
Transit service (bus and light rail) is free within downtown Salt Lake City and the adjacent area up to the State Capitol, this area being referred to by UTA as its Free Fare Zone.
, and similar to the Portland Streetcar
and Seattle's South Lake Union Streetcar
, both of which have been visited and studied by Salt Lake officials in connection with this proposal. The streetcar line would connect the Central Pointe TRAX station in South Salt Lake with the Sugar House business district, running along a two-mile section of 2300 South. This developed from an earlier proposal for a heritage streetcar
line. Preliminary engineering for the project has been completed, but options for funding are still being identified and discussed. The estimated cost is $40 million to $50 million, but officials predict that the line would generate much new property development in the areas through which it would run and would raise the value of existing development. The city of Salt Lake is providing $2.5 million and has requested money from the federal government to have the line complete by 2012.
Salt Lake City is serviced by the Salt Lake City International Airport
and serves as a hub
for Delta Air Lines
and Delta Connection
partner SkyWest Airlines
. The airport offers non-stop domestic and international flights to cities such as New York
, Los Angeles
, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago
, Houston, Tokyo
, Vancouver
, Calgary
, Mexico City
, Guadalajara
, Cancun
, and Paris
. A regional airport, known as South Valley Regional Airport, is located in West Jordan
and serves as a general aviation
and military helicopter training airport.
, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Salt Lake City, operating its California Zephyr
daily in both directions between Chicago
and Emeryville, California
across the bay from San Francisco.
services exist in Salt Lake City: Ute Cab, City Cab, and Yellow Cab. In 2004, a controversy sprung up between entrepreneurs wishing to enter the taxi market in the city, and the mayor's office, which has maintained tight restrictions on the taxi fleet. The controversy was fueled by Yellow Cab's advocacy of Mayor Rocky Anderson
's re-election campaign by displaying the mayor's campaign ads wrapped around the company's taxis, and further by the decision by the mayor's campaign not to report this as a political in-kind contribution. Anderson drove a cab for Yellow while in college.
All public transit in the city is operated by the Utah Transit Authority
Utah Transit Authority
The Utah Transit Authority operates a public transportation system throughout the Wasatch Front of Utah, United States. It operates fixed route buses, express buses, ski buses, three light rail lines , and a commuter rail line from Salt Lake City to Pleasant View, north of Ogden. UTA is based in...
. In addition to operating the bus system, they also operate the TRAX
UTA TRAX
TRAX is a three-line light rail system in Utah's Salt Lake Valley, serving Salt Lake City and several of its suburbs throughout Salt Lake County. The system is operated by the Utah Transit Authority ....
light rail system, which contains two lines, one of which runs from downtown
Downtown Salt Lake City
Downtown is the oldest district in Salt Lake City. The grid from which the entire city is laid out originates at Temple Square, the location of the Salt Lake Temple.-Location:...
south to Sandy
Sandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
, and another of which runs east to the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. A commuter rail line, called FrontRunner
FrontRunner
FrontRunner is a commuter rail system operated by the Utah Transit Authority , serving the northern portion of the Wasatch Front from Salt Lake Central Station to Ogden Union Station. The system opened 26 April 2008...
, runs north to Ogden
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
. It was recently completed and is also run by the UTA. The road system is also extensive, with 3 interstate highways and an additional state freeway. However, the geographical constrictions of the valley, as well as its rapid growth, has led to severe congestion problems.
Roads
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
. I-15 comes in from Davis County
Davis County, Utah
Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2010 the population was 306,479, a 28.2% increase over the 2000 figure of 238,994. It was named for Daniel C. Davis, captain in the Mormon Battalion. The county is part of the Ogden–Clearfield Metropolitan Statistical Area as...
to the north and heads straight south through the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
. I-80 comes in from the west and passes Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport is a major public airport in Utah. A joint civil-military facility, it is located in western Salt Lake City, approximately four miles from the central business district...
before merging with I-15 west of Downtown. The merge continues for about 3 mi (5 km) before I-80 splits east again. It passes through largely residential areas through northern South Salt Lake
South Salt Lake, Utah
South Salt Lake is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States, part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 23,617 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City before entering Parley's Canyon
Parley's Canyon
Parley's Canyon is a canyon located in the U.S. state of Utah. The canyon provides the route of Interstate 80 up the western slope of the Wasatch Mountains and is a relatively wide, straight canyon. The lower part of the canyon, however, is relatively twisty and had to be dynamited to make way for...
. Interstate 215
Interstate 215 (Utah)
Interstate 215 , also known locally as the belt route or two-fifteen, is an auxiliary interstate in the U.S. state of Utah that forms a 270-degree loop around Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs...
, known as the belt route, forms a 270° loop around Salt Lake City and its first-ring suburbs. It enters the Rose Park neighborhood in northwestern Salt Lake City from Davis County and continues south, intersecting I-80 and State Route 201 before turning east in Taylorsville
Taylorsville, Utah
Taylorsville is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 57,439 at the 2000 census...
, intersecting I-15 in Murray
Murray, Utah
Murray is a city situated on the Wasatch Front in the core of Salt Lake Valley in the U.S. state of Utah. Named for territorial governor Eli Murray, it is the state's fourteenth largest city. According to the 2010 census, Murray has approximately 46,746 residents.Murray is close to Salt Lake City,...
, and turning north in Holladay
Holladay, Utah
Holladay is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 26,472 at the 2010 census, a significant increase from 14,561 in 2000. The city was incorporated on November 29, 1999 as Holladay-Cottonwood, and the...
. From there it parallels the Wasatch Range
Wasatch Range
The Wasatch Range is a mountain range that stretches approximately from the Utah-Idaho border, south through central Utah in the western United States. It is generally considered the western edge of the greater Rocky Mountains, and the eastern edge of the Great Basin region...
through the affleunt residential eastern suburbs before ending at I-80 at the mouth of Parley's Canyon. This "belt route" largely serves as a commuter route for the suburbs. State Route 201, known locally as the "21st South Freeway" or as "201", is a freeway that heads westward from the southern I-80/I-15 split, known as the "Spaghetti Bowl", along the border of Salt Lake City and West Valley City
West Valley City, Utah
West Valley City is a city in Salt Lake County and a suburb of Salt Lake City in the U.S. state of Utah. The population was 129,480 at the 2010 census,...
. This is a largely congested route that serves much of the west side commuter traffic. As it dips southward into Magna
Magna, Utah
Magna is a census-designated place and township in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. The population was 26,505 at the 2010 census, a moderate increase over the 2000 figure of 22,770...
, it is downgraded to an expressway, although it is eventually planned to be upgraded to a freeway as traffic from Tooele County
Tooele County, Utah
Tooele County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000, the population was 40,735 and by 2005 was estimated at 51,311. Its county seat and largest city is Tooele....
increases. It continues westward to I-80 near the Tooele County line. SR-201 serves as a commuter freeway for the westside of the valley and Tooele County, and also as an alternative to I-80 when needed. The 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
prompted a massive overhaul of I-15, from 600 North in Salt Lake City to 10600 South in Sandy
Sandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
. The interstate was expanded to 10 lanes, including 2 high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Portions of I-80 and I-215 were also reconstructed.
Other major roadways through the valley include State Street, which is the portion of US-89 that shoots arrow-straight through the valley from Downtown Salt Lake City to Sandy
Sandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
, and Bangerter Highway (State Route 154), an expressway that begins at the airport and runs down the west side of the valley, serving the quickly-growing west and south sides of the valley. It curves east in Riverton
Riverton, Utah
Riverton is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 38,753 at the 2010 census. Riverton is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state of Utah, and was ranked by CNN Money Magazine as the 60th best...
and Bluffdale
Bluffdale, Utah
Bluffdale is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, USA. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,700 according to the 2000 census...
at the south end of the valley to connect with I-15 in Draper
Draper, Utah
Draper is a city in Salt Lake and Utah Counties in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Between 1990 and 2000 Draper was Utah's fastest-growing city over 5,000 people . Its population in 1990 was 7,143 and had grown to 25,220 by the 2000 census...
.
Plans exist for a freeway to run the west side of the Salt Lake Valley. It is known as the Mountain View Corridor
Mountain View Corridor
The Mountain View Corridor, numerically designated as State Route 85 , is an expressway currently under construction that will run along the western periphery of Salt Lake County and northwest Utah County in northern Utah. A spur of the eventual freeway to Interstate 15 opened in northwestern Utah...
and is part of the Legacy Highway
Legacy Highway
The Legacy Highway is a proposed freeway in the U.S. state of Utah that is planned to run from Brigham City in the north down the western side of the Wasatch Front to Nephi in the south. It was proposed in 1996, but due to lawsuits over issues with the completeness of the environmental impact...
project. This freeway is expected to be completed sometime between 2015 and 2020, with construction beginning as soon as 2008. Several routes have been proposed, but the most likely to be approved is the 5600 West alternative. This freeway will serve the fast-growing communities located along the west and south sides of the valley, and also in northern Utah County
Utah County, Utah
Utah County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000, the population was 368,536 and by 2008 was estimated at 530,837. It was named for the Spanish name for the Ute Indians. The county seat and largest city is Provo...
.
Public Transit
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system, known as Transit Express, but more commonly known as TRAX
UTA TRAX
TRAX is a three-line light rail system in Utah's Salt Lake Valley, serving Salt Lake City and several of its suburbs throughout Salt Lake County. The system is operated by the Utah Transit Authority ....
, had also been planned for years. In anticipation of the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
, the system was approved in 1995. The first line began service on December 4, 1999 and currently links downtown with Sandy, and another line to the University of Utah was completed in 2001, with an extension to the University of Utah Health Sciences Center in 2003. The next TRAX line to be constructed will be the "Mid-Jordan" line, extending from Murray
Murray, Utah
Murray is a city situated on the Wasatch Front in the core of Salt Lake Valley in the U.S. state of Utah. Named for territorial governor Eli Murray, it is the state's fourteenth largest city. According to the 2010 census, Murray has approximately 46,746 residents.Murray is close to Salt Lake City,...
and into Midvale
Midvale, Utah
Midvale is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 27,029 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Midvale is located at ....
, West Jordan
West Jordan, Utah
West Jordan is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. West Jordan is a rapidly growing suburb of Salt Lake City and has a mixed economy. According to the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 103,712, placing it as the fourth most populated in the state. The city occupies the...
, and South Jordan
South Jordan, Utah
South Jordan is a city in the U.S. state of Utah. The city lies in the Salt Lake Valley between the peaks of the Oquirrh Mountains and the peaks of the Wasatch Mountains and is part of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area...
. The Mid-Jordan Line is expected to be completed by 2012. Other light rail lines contemplated include an extension from Sandy into Draper
Draper, Utah
Draper is a city in Salt Lake and Utah Counties in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Between 1990 and 2000 Draper was Utah's fastest-growing city over 5,000 people . Its population in 1990 was 7,143 and had grown to 25,220 by the 2000 census...
, from Downtown to the airport
Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport is a major public airport in Utah. A joint civil-military facility, it is located in western Salt Lake City, approximately four miles from the central business district...
, and from South Salt Lake
South Salt Lake, Utah
South Salt Lake is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States, part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 23,617 at the 2010 census.-History:...
into West Valley City
West Valley City, Utah
West Valley City is a city in Salt Lake County and a suburb of Salt Lake City in the U.S. state of Utah. The population was 129,480 at the 2010 census,...
. In the far future, light rail may also be extended into southern Davis County
Davis County, Utah
Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2010 the population was 306,479, a 28.2% increase over the 2000 figure of 238,994. It was named for Daniel C. Davis, captain in the Mormon Battalion. The county is part of the Ogden–Clearfield Metropolitan Statistical Area as...
and northern Utah County
Utah County, Utah
Utah County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000, the population was 368,536 and by 2008 was estimated at 530,837. It was named for the Spanish name for the Ute Indians. The county seat and largest city is Provo...
.
FrontRunner
FrontRunner
FrontRunner is a commuter rail system operated by the Utah Transit Authority , serving the northern portion of the Wasatch Front from Salt Lake Central Station to Ogden Union Station. The system opened 26 April 2008...
, a commuter rail system, was recently opened. By 2020, it is expected to extend from Brigham City
Brigham City, Utah
Brigham City is a city in Box Elder County, Utah, United States. The population was 17,899 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Box Elder County. It lies on the western slope of the Wellsville Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range at the western terminus of Box Elder Canyon...
to Payson
Payson, Utah
Payson is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 12,716 at the 2000 census. The current mayor is Rick Moore, who in the 2009 election was the first write-in candidate ever to defeat an incumbent mayor in...
, the approximate extents of the Wasatch Front. The first segment, between Salt Lake City and Pleasant View
Pleasant View, Utah
Pleasant View is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. The population was 5,632 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ogden–Clearfield, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, just north of Ogden
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
, began construction on August 10, 2005 and was opened on April 26, 2008. FrontRunner was finally extended to Pleasant View on September 29, 2008.
UTA also runs the bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
system in Salt Lake. The bus system reaches almost everywhere within Salt Lake City, and many points in the valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
and beyond, serving the entire length of the Wasatch Front
Wasatch Front
The Wasatch Front is a metropolitan region in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Utah. It consists of a chain of cities and towns stretched along the Wasatch Range from approximately Santaquin in the south to Brigham City in the north...
. Other services provided by UTA include a paratransit
Paratransit
Paratransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules. Typically mini-buses are used to provide paratransit service, but also share taxis and jitneys are important providers....
service, which has curbside pickup for disabled riders, express buses running between Salt Lake City and its major suburbs, and winter service to the ski resorts in the Wasatch Range
Wasatch Range
The Wasatch Range is a mountain range that stretches approximately from the Utah-Idaho border, south through central Utah in the western United States. It is generally considered the western edge of the greater Rocky Mountains, and the eastern edge of the Great Basin region...
.
Transit service (bus and light rail) is free within downtown Salt Lake City and the adjacent area up to the State Capitol, this area being referred to by UTA as its Free Fare Zone.
Proposed streetcar line
City officials are currently studying the idea of building a modern streetcar line, a lower-speed and lower-capacity type of rail system than the TRAX light railLight rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
, and similar to the Portland Streetcar
Portland Streetcar
The Portland Streetcar is a streetcar system in Portland, Oregon, that opened in 2001 and serves areas surrounding downtown Portland. It is currently a single line that is almost long and serves some 12,000 daily riders, but a second line is expected to open in 2012.As with the heavier-duty MAX...
and Seattle's South Lake Union Streetcar
South Lake Union Streetcar
The Seattle Streetcar—South Lake Union Line is a streetcar line connecting the South Lake Union neighborhood to Downtown Seattle, United States. Service began on December 12, 2007...
, both of which have been visited and studied by Salt Lake officials in connection with this proposal. The streetcar line would connect the Central Pointe TRAX station in South Salt Lake with the Sugar House business district, running along a two-mile section of 2300 South. This developed from an earlier proposal for a heritage streetcar
Heritage streetcar
Heritage streetcars or heritage trams are a development of the heritage railways that are becoming popular across the world. As with modern streetcar systems, the vehicles are referred to as trams or tramcars in the United Kingdom, Australasia and certain other places , but as streetcars or...
line. Preliminary engineering for the project has been completed, but options for funding are still being identified and discussed. The estimated cost is $40 million to $50 million, but officials predict that the line would generate much new property development in the areas through which it would run and would raise the value of existing development. The city of Salt Lake is providing $2.5 million and has requested money from the federal government to have the line complete by 2012.
Air
Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport is a major public airport in Utah. A joint civil-military facility, it is located in western Salt Lake City, approximately four miles from the central business district...
and serves as a hub
Airline hub
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations...
for Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
and Delta Connection
Delta Connection
Delta Connection is the name under which a number of individually owned regional airlines and one wholly owned regional carrier operate short and medium haul routes in association with Delta Air Lines Inc...
partner SkyWest Airlines
Skywest Airlines
Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd is a regional airline company based in Perth, Western Australia, Australia; servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory and Melbourne, Victoria; as well as charter flights to Bali, Indonesia....
. The airport offers non-stop domestic and international flights to cities such as New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Houston, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
, Cancun
Cancún
Cancún is a city of international tourism development certified by the UNWTO . Located on the northeast coast of Quintana Roo in southern Mexico, more than 1,700 km from Mexico City, the Project began operations in 1974 as Integrally Planned Center, a pioneer of FONATUR Cancún is a city of...
, and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. A regional airport, known as South Valley Regional Airport, is located in West Jordan
West Jordan, Utah
West Jordan is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. West Jordan is a rapidly growing suburb of Salt Lake City and has a mixed economy. According to the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 103,712, placing it as the fourth most populated in the state. The city occupies the...
and serves as a general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
and military helicopter training airport.
Passenger Rail
AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Salt Lake City, operating its California Zephyr
California Zephyr
The California Zephyr is a long passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the midwestern and western United States.It runs from Chicago, Illinois, in the east to Emeryville, California, in the west, passing through the states of Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California...
daily in both directions between Chicago
Union Station (Chicago)
Union Station is a major train station that opened in 1925 in Chicago, replacing an earlier 1881 station. It is now the only intercity rail terminal in Chicago, as well as being the city's primary terminal for commuter trains. The station stands on the west side of the Chicago River between Adams...
and Emeryville, California
Emeryville, California
Emeryville is a small city located in Alameda County, California, in the United States. It is located in a corridor between the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, extending to the shore of San Francisco Bay. Its proximity to San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, the University of California, Berkeley, and...
across the bay from San Francisco.
Taxi
Three taxicabTaxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
services exist in Salt Lake City: Ute Cab, City Cab, and Yellow Cab. In 2004, a controversy sprung up between entrepreneurs wishing to enter the taxi market in the city, and the mayor's office, which has maintained tight restrictions on the taxi fleet. The controversy was fueled by Yellow Cab's advocacy of Mayor Rocky Anderson
Rocky Anderson
Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson served two terms as the 33rd mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, between 2000 and 2008. He is the Executive Director of High Road for Human Rights...
's re-election campaign by displaying the mayor's campaign ads wrapped around the company's taxis, and further by the decision by the mayor's campaign not to report this as a political in-kind contribution. Anderson drove a cab for Yellow while in college.