By ZACHARY WEST
Salt Lake City - Construction on the Utah TRAX line connecting the University of Utah and University Hospital is 15 months ahead of schedule. The line, projected to be finished in September, has the potential to transport 4,000 people a day.
However, Utah Transit Authority officials think there may be more than 4,000 riders using the new line.
'On the North-South line it was anticipated we would transport 14,000 passengers a day,' said UTA spokesman Kris McBride. 'We actually transport 20,000. The University line was anticipated to carry 4,000, and it's carrying 8,000 passengers a day. We'll see what happens with this new line.'
Anne Brillinger, director of public affairs for the Health Sciences Center at the University of Utah said they need the line because of the dense population in the area of the Health Sciences Campus.
'With the hospital and thousands of people that come here everyday, including students, faculty and staff, many have indicated to us that they would appreciate a TRAX line,' she said.
According to the University of Utah Web site, the campus has more than 45,000 faculty, staff and students. The Health Sciences Campus has about 9,000 health service employees in the area, all are potential users of the new light rail transit.
Brillinger said the Health Sciences Campus and outlying clinics account for between 700,000 and 800,000 outpatient visits each year. Many of those patients will be using the light rail transit to get to the campus hospital and nearby clinics.
McBride said in addition to health service employees, University of Utah personnel and students, the light rail transit will connect residents and visitors with businesses and cultural attractions. He also said the line will help alleviate traffic problems in the area.
University of Utah officials say the extension to the light rail line will provide many opportunities for students, employees and health care employees associated with the school.
'We would like to have it done before school starts, but we'll take anything we can get,' said Tom Christensen, project manager for the University of Utah campus design and construction department. 'The sooner it's done, the less impact it is on the campus. We are excited to have it done sooner.'
Christensen said construction has gone smoothly and that building around campus utilities has been relatively easy compared to other lines built in the downtown area. He also said the University anticipates heavy ridership on the line.
'There is going to be a lot of people anxious to ride the rail to campus,' he said. 'Parking is getting so hard on this campus that people are scrambling to find alternative ways of getting up here.'