• UTA's estimated cost to build the 13 th East Draper TRAX Right of Way ("ROW") is $245.1 million. [1]
  
• In addition to the cost to build the ROW, UTA estimates annual operating expenses for the Draper ROW to be $4.2 million. [2]
  
• UTA's expected ridership per day on the Draper TRAX line is 6,000. [3]
  
• Since revenue from expected ridership will not cover the costs to build and operate the Draper ROW, UTA foresees using $346,215,822 through 2030 to cover these costs. [4]
  
• This results in a taxpayer subsidy of $5,495.00 per year per rider. [5]
  
• UTA has not studied the feasibility of any potential routes west of State Street . [6]
  
• The UTA Draper Study did not take into account what impact of UTA's proposed FrontRunner (high speed rail) line will have on the Draper TRAX line. [7]
  
• The Draper ROW line will only have three stops south of 12300 South (City Hall; 14600 South, and a non-park and ride station on Highland Drive ). [8]
  
• UTA recently requested $5.5 billion in sales tax dollars, more than double what was represented to voters, claiming that the "obligation to operate and maintain them would go on indefinitely." [9]
  
• Cleaning crews for TRAX trains regularly find drug paraphernalia including needles between the seats and are immunized against Hepatitis A and B as a precaution. [10]
  
• According to UTA: (1) There is a "[h]igh potential noise and vibration impacts to residences located along the alignment and adjacent to park-and-ride lots;" [11] (2) "[e]questrian uses may be found incompatible" along the Porter Rockwell trail; [12] and (3) the Draper ROW "[d]oes not serve the core employment corridor of State Street." [13]
  
• According to UTA officials, TRAX impacts bus riders because it "steals riders from routes and creates a need to realign bus service to provide access to rail." [14]
  
• TRAX ridership has decreased 17.5% in 2007 when compared to 2006. [15]
  
• TRAX trains will travel at an estimated 55-60 MPH through low density residential neighborhoods. [16]
  
• Draper City Council has opposed allowing Draper residents to voice their approval/disapproval of the ROW through the ballot box.

Considering the above problems with the proposed Draper ROW, shouldn't we make sure that we look at all of the alternatives for TRAX to bring the best public transportation option to Draper (including less costly alternatives) before spending $350 million?

The old Union Pacific tracks were built with out-dated technology in the late 1800's-- they loop eight miles through low density homes (the homes were built according to the Draper Master Plan, which did not include TRAX until 2003) and are basiclly abandoned and run along the much loved and used  Porter Rockwell Trail and Draper Park.   

Wouldn't a better option for the eight mile track area now be a beautiful linear park, instead of trains every ten minutes and ugly electrical lines strewn eight miles through Draper neighborhoods?  UTA would  never choose this route if the tracks were not already there.  Isn't there a better option?  

[1] "UTA Draper City Transit Alternatives Study Final Report"; Sept. 26, 2006 ("UTA Draper Study"), pg. 4-2, table 4-1.
[2] UTA Draper Study, pg. 4-2, table 4-2.
[3] UTA Draper Study, pg. 3-3, table 3-1.
[4] UTA Draper Study, pg. 4-3, table 4-3.
[5] Based upon UTA figures with an estimated completion date of 2010.
[6] UTA Draper Study, pg. 1-1, sec. 1.2.
[7] UTA Draper Study.
[8] UTA Draper Study, pg. 3-9, figure 3-1.
[9] "TRAX now wants to extend its share of sales tax for 50 years or more"; Salt Lake Tribune, Oct. 9, 2007 .
[10] "TRAX facility's abuzz at night"; Deseret News, Oct. 5, 2003 .
[11] UTA Draper Study, pg. 6-13, table 6-5.
[12] UTA Draper Study, pg. 6-14, table 6-5.
[13] UTA Draper Study, pg. 7-2, table 7-1.
[14] "TRAX and taxes: Would expanded light rail be worth the price?" Deseret News, Apr. 30, 2006 .
[15] "TRAX ridership numbers pit UTA, critics"; Deseret News, July 29, 2007 .
[16] UTA officials estimation of speed based upon current speeds of UTA TRAX trains.