By mid 2008, many pieces will fall into place to connect Ogden and Northern Utah to Salt Lake City. All of these projects will make Northern Utah more accessible to residents and visitors.
1) As discussed in the attached article, the 80 MPH Frontrunner light rail system will connect Northern Utah with Salt Lake City's Light Rail System (TRAX), significantly reducing commuting time, stress and expense. Plans are already in place to connect TRAX to the SLC airport.
2) The Legacy Highway system, which will provide an alternate route for commuters traveling between Northern Utah and Salt Lake City, will also ease congestion and pressure on I-15.
3) The Northern Weber (NOW) I-15 widening project will be completed in 2008, further reducing congestion issues
| A Preview of UTA's Frontrunner Commuter Train |
| 02/23/2007 |
| Ed Yeates Reporting The first high-speed locomotives for UTA's new Frontrunner commuter train have arrived, and today, it was show-off time. A little under 14 months until UTA's new Frontrunner train zips along between Salt Lake and Ogden. These new-generation locomotives will pull or push the trains, depending which direction they're going, every 30 minutes on weekdays and every hour at night. Steve Meyer, manager, Commuter Rail Construction & Engineering: "We want rapid acceleration, good de-acceleration and higher top-end speed. These are designed ultimately for a top speed of 91 MPH." Frontrunner, though, will top off at about 80 MPH along Utah's corridor. But still, that's only a 50-minute ride even at peak congestion when freeways are bumper to bumper. The new locomotives are environmentally friendly, reducing emissions by 27 percent and actual particulate matter by 26 percent. The cab is protected by 4x4 steel rollover beams, and the front is impact resistant. With this first of 11 locomotives, Frontrunner is right on schedule. Paul O'Brien, general manager, rail services: "We will be up and running for revenue service, which means carrying paying customers, in April 2008." Built by MotivePower in Boise, Idaho, the 3,600-horsepower machines are impressive. So much so, I had to fulfill a childhood dream. As kids, we all use to ride our bikes to the railway tracks to watch the really big locomotives come through the crossing. But I never thought now I would be sitting here, operating one of these powerhouses. The Frontrunner locomotive can tow up to 10 cars with 2,000 people per train. |
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