Mid-Jordan TRAX Update

This weekend UTA debuted the new light rail vehicles that will be used on the Mid-Jordan TRAX line. They are curerntly being tested on the newly completed portion of the line in Daybreak. They are expected to enter full service when the TRAX line is completed next year. The new vehicles provide easier access with "low floors for platform-level boarding and doorways with deployable boarding ramps" (Progressive Railroading).

At the event held last Friday, more than 200 people were able to test ride the new S70 light rail vehicles. UTA has order 77 of the new vehicles for the four new TRAX lines that are being built. These lines will provide transportation for the Airport, Draper, West Valley, and the Mid-Jordan area.

The Mid-Jordan TRAX line will run along the existing Bingham Branch Railroad corridor branching off of the existing Sandy/Salt Lake light rail line at the 6400 South (Fashion Place) TRAX station and extending west to 5600 West. From there, the line will turn south toward Daybreak in South Jordan.

Construction on the line began in May 2008 and is currently over 60% complete. Most of the construction has been focussed on the 2.1-mile Daybreak section of the line. The completed Daybreak section will serve as a test track for new light-rail vehicles.

Here is an update on the contruction progress: Nearly all of the track for the line has been laid. The future station platforms have already been constructed at all 10 stations, and several Park & Ride lots have been completed. TRAX bridges are in place at Winchester Street, 7200 South, 700 West, the Jordan River, 7800 South, the Utah/Salt Lake Canal and Bangerter Highway. All 16 noise barriers are also installed and nearly all grade crossings are complete. Future projects will include the installation of overhead catenary system poles and wires, and the installation and testing of railway signaling equipment.

Here is a little video that UTA developed to briefly discuss the progress and scope of the project.

Tax Credit Extension

--UPDATE-- As discussed by Dana Allen this has passed the Senate but is not law yet. "While the Senate voted to accept the amendment...the Senate has not yet voted on the amended bill itself, which deals with a range of issues from extending unemployment benefits to Medicare funding." (Inman News, June, 2010).

Good news for home buyers already under contract.

The Associated Press just released information that the Senate has approved an extension of the tax credit. However, this extension only helps those already under contract.

We've been scrambling trying to get everyone who is under contract closed by the June 30th deadline. Apparently we are not the only ones. Apparently there is an estimated 180,000 homebuyers currently under contract that are not expected to close by June 30th. "Mortgage lenders have been swamped with borrowers trying to get approved by the end of the month. Many potential borrowers are unlikely to make the deadline" (The Associated Press, 2010).

Today the Senate extended the closing deadline three months. Current buyers who went under contract before the April 30th deadline, now have until September 30th to complete their purchase and will still qualify for the $8,000.

As a Reuters report points out this won't have a large impact on future home sales. This helps all those individuals who have already worked hard to get their home, but haven't been able to close because of the frantic scurry caused by the coming deadline.

The Mountain View Corridor

Have you heard about the Moutain View Corridor? Have you seen the construction crews clearing the way for a new Freeway? This sweeping road project is HUGE and may change the value of your property. Keep reading to see what it is, where it is, and when it will be done. This corridor will change nearby home values. Contact me so we can discuss your specific situation to find out where you should sell and where to buy!

The Moutain View Corridor: What is it?

The Mountain View Corridor is a new system of roads, mass-transit, and recreational trails currently under construction. The project will be built in three phases. This approach will balance immediate transportation needs with the current budget while providing a long-term solution for future needs. Phase 1 (currently underway) is the construction of the outer lanes with intersections and signals. Building the outside lanes first preserves the land in the middle where future lanes can be added. The last two phases will add the center lanes which will have no signals. They will be raised above current roads to create a freeway. The outside lanes from phase 1 will become the on ramps and interchanges for the final freeway.

Click Here for image gallery and video simulations.

The walking and bike trail sections will also be built during the first phase of construction. Additionally there is a separate mass-transit plan. Bus Rapid Transit vehicles will operate in their own lanes in the center of 5600 West. Regular traffic will use general-purpose lanes adjacent to the transit. This transit system could evolve into a rail system in the future.

Once finished, the Mountain View Corridor will be a free-flowing freeway simimlar to I-15 (with grade-separated interchanges) that serves 13 cities across the Wasatch Front. It will also add an East/West connection between Redwood Road and I-15 in Utah County.

The Mountain View Corridor: Where is it?

The Final product of the Mountain View Corridor project is a full freeway spanning 35 miles from I-80 to Lehi. In the north it will connect with I-80 at 5800 West in Salt Lake City. In the south it will connect with I-15 at 2100 North in Lehi.

The mass-transit alternative of the project will be on 5600 West in Salt Lake County. It will connect with currently planned UTA light-rail projects including the Airport Extension (at the International Center), the 3500 South Line in West Valley City, and the Mid-Jordan Line in South Jordan (in Daybreak).

The Mountain View Corridor: How long will it take?

The initial phase of the Salt Lake County portion of the project has already begun. They have started a 15-mile segment of the corridor between 5400 South and 16000 South (at Redwood Road).

Originally this phase was only going to be a 10-mile segment. However, because of the economy and low construction costs, the scope of this phase has been expanded. This portion of the Salt Lake County section will be finished in Fall 2013.

In Utah County construction has already begun on a three-mile section of 2100 North from Redwood Road to I-15. This portion of the Mountain View Corridor will finish in September 2011.