SALT LAKE CITY - Federal Transit Administrator Jennifer L. Dorn April 1, 2002, announced a grant of $13.8 million in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds to the Utah Transit Authority for the University Light Rail Transit (LRT) line.
Funds authorized under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century provide for the grant awarded today, in the amount of $13,860,183, which will be used for the implementation of the 2.5-mile long University LRT line. The University LRT project extends from the North/South LRT line in Downtown Salt Lake City to Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus. The University LRT line, which opened in December 2001, includes four stations and five light rail vehicles. Currently, ridership on the University Line is approximately 5,000 per day. This project significantly improves access to jobs, educational opportunities and housing throughout the area.
"President Bush has proposed $7.2 billion for the Federal Transit Program as part of the FY 2003 budget, further reinforcing this Administration's commitment to public transportation as a strategic investment," said Administrator Dorn. "This grant strengthens that commitment and will help provide safe, efficient and reliable transit service to the students at the University of Utah and the general public."
The Federal Transit Administration executed a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) with the Utah Transit Authority for the University LRT line on August 17, 2000. The total estimated cost of the project is $118.5 million.
An FFGA is the federal government's commitment to support a transit project over the course of several fiscal years, contingent upon the availability of funds. As funds are appropriated, the full funding projects receive priority consideration.
