UTAH Transit Authority began work on January 8 to build a 1?6?km extension of Salt Lake City’s TRAX light rail network from the existing city-centre terminus to a new intermodal interchange where it will connect with the FrontRunner commuter rail route, Amtrak and both local and inter-city buses. Serving one intermediate station, the line is due to be completed in about 18 months, Further extensions to the light rail network are envisaged in a priority list of regional transport projects approved by elected officials on December 19. To be funded in part by a 0?25% sales tax increase approved by voters in November, the list includes the $700m West Valley and $750m Mid-Jordan lines plus a $1?3bn expansion of FrontRunner services within Salt Lake County. Utah County residents approved a separate 0?25% sales tax increase to fund commuter rail from the Salt Lake County border to Provo. UTA General Manager John Inglish hopes to see the extensions completed in seven to 10 years.UTA had already purchased 29 second-hand UTDC-built LRVs from Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority for its expansion programme, and in January it awarded a contract for Bombardier to give these cars a mid-life overhaul at the UTA depot in Warm Springs.n

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