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SALT LAKE CITY -- On Sunday, the Utah Transit Authority added two additional TRAX lines to the Salt Lake Valley, providing more residents the option of alternative transportation.
The Mid-Jordan and West Valley TRAX line are now open, but some people need a little extra help navigating the new system. With the new line changes, several commuters have had to change their routes and switch trains, which have added to their commute time.
If it's not broke, don't fix.
–Jennifer Rost
With Monday being the first business day for commuters to utilize the new system, there have already been mixed reactions from the people about the new changes.
Jennifer Rost and her 3-year-old son Wyatt live in downtown Salt Lake, but they're going to have a long commute.
"Actually, I go from downtown all the way to 6400 South to drop (Wyatt) off and then I go to work on 2100 South and 3300 West," Rost said.
She thinks the old TRAX system was just fine the way it was.
"If it's not broke, don't fix," she said.
I would think that you could just stay on one train and go to where you need to go, like you could before.
–Colleen O'Hara
The UTA added 77 new rail cars, which travel 17 new miles of rail lines to West Valley, West Jordan and South Jordan, which nearly doubles the number of rail lines in the southwest part of the Salt Lake Valley. Additionally, most bus routes have changed, while some were eliminated.
For riders like Colleen O'Hara, it is a big adjustment to learn the new system. Riding from her home in the Avenues to her job in Midvale has already caused her some problems.
"I'd either take the 3 bus or the number 6, but now I'm having to take the number 6 bus," O'Hara said. "I missed that, so I drove to 1300 South."
O'Hara, like many others, wish there was a more direct route to get to her destination on the Red line.
It's a lot easier and a lot nicer. Before I had to make five transfers, and now, I only have to make two.
–Dan Case
"I would think that you could just stay on one train and go to where you need to go, like you could before," she said.
"It'd be nice to have the West Valley go to the University because you only have to make one jump," added West Valley City resident Dan Case.
Dan is commuting to the University of Utah. While he would like a direct line to his destination, he still shaved a lot of time coming from West Valley's Green line.
"It's a lot easier and a lot nicer," he said. "Before I had to make five transfers, and now, I only have to make two."
To help commuters adjust to the new system, UTA workers like Jim Bean are handing out maps and are answering questions.
"A lot of new adaptation that we want to make sure people feel comfortable going between three different lines," Bean said.
But sometimes you can't make everyone happy.
The UTA project cost $900 million, which is roughly 80 percent of local funds and 20 percent federal.
Email: niyamba@ksl.com
