FrontRunner Making Money for the State?

FrontRunner nets state $16.5 million reimbursement

byMelinda Williams

Dec 30, 2010 | 71 views | 0  |  | 1  |  | 

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT recently gave the state a reimbursement for FrontRunner’s construction. The train started running in April 2008. Photo: Ron Brown

DAVIS COUNTY — Davis County residents and others have been riding the FrontRunner commuter train since April 2008.

Now, the federal government is giving the state a $16.5 million reimbursement for the rail’s construction.

The money was part of $37 million for two rail projects funded under the federal government’s New Starts grants program for work already completed. The payment was announced Monday by U.S. Transportation Ray LaHood and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff.

The payments were for the FrontRunner Salt Lake City to Ogden commuter rail line and $20.623 million for the Mid-Jordan TRAX light rail project — both projects already completed and represent federal dollars previously committed to the projects under fill funding grant agreements.

“These advance payments are deeply appreciated and come at a time when they can be the most helpful,” said Michael Allegra, UTA general manager. “By freeing up local funds, it allows us to apply more resources toward completing our other rail projects.”

FrontRunner is a 44-mile, eight-station rail line between Salt Lake City and Pleasant view in Weber County. It cost $611.7 million to construct, with a federal New Starts Share of $489.4 million.

The Mid-Jordan line is a 10.6 mile light rail line that will connect to the Sandy/Salt Lake TRAX line at 6400 South (Fashion Place Mall). It cost $535.4 million, with a federal New Starts Share of $428.3 million. The new line will begin operations in August 2011.

Other UTA projects under construction include light rail extensions to the Salt Lake International Airport, West Valley City and Draper and a 45-mile extension of commuter rail from Salt Lake City to Provo.

For more information on UTA projects, visit www.rideuta.com.

Read more:Davis County Clipper - FrontRunner nets state 16 5 million reimbursement

UTA Receives Federal Funding Earlier Than Expected

UTA receives federal funding earlier than expected

December 27th, 2010 @ 2:31pm

By Wendy Leonard

SALT LAKE CITY — The Federal Transit Administration announced Monday that it will advance a total of $182.4 million in New Starts funding to help with seven projects already underway in five states, including in Salt Lake.

Utah is expected to get more than $37 million for two separate projects.

"By making these payments now, we're not only fulfilling the federal government's commitment to these projects sooner, but we're also giving a well-timed boost to communities that have made an important investment in their transportation infrastructure," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a press release Monday.

The monies are being paid out earlier than originally expected because of unallocated, left-over funds in the FTA's fiscal year 2010 budget for new construction.

The Utah Transit Authority can now use the extra cash for other projects, including the West Valley and airport TRAX lines, FrontRunner extension to Provo and the planning of a Draper-Sandy TRAX route.

"These advance payments are deeply appreciated and come at a time when they can be the most helpful," said UTA General Manager Michael Allegra. "By freeing up local funds, it allows us to apply more resources toward completing our other rail projects."

More than $20 million is slated to help the UTA pay for the 10.6-mile Mid-Jordan TRAX line, which will join the existing Sandy line at 6400 South, providing a direct connection to the Salt Lake City central business district, the University of Utah and other Wasatch destinations.

The line, which will be completed in August 2011, is expected to carry 9,500 daily passengers by 2030, helping to reduce highway congestion and pollution. The project will cost a total of $535.4 million, with a federal New Starts share of $428.3 million committed to the project.

FrontRunner, which spans 44 miles and connects eight stations from Salt Lake City to Ogden, will get $16.5 million now, as part of New Starts expected contributions of $489.4 million for the $611.7 million project. The line currently has more than 5,100 daily riders and is expected to serve nearly 12,000 weekday riders by 2025.

Other projects receiving funding from the FTA include light rail routes in Dallas, commuter rail and subway projects in New York City, train lines in Northern Virginia and light rail extensions in Seattle.

E-mail:wleonard@desnews.com