Committee to Stop East-West Light Rail records, 1999-2000

The Committee to Stop East-West Light Rail was formed against the plans of the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) to build a light-rail spur from downtown Salt Lake City to the University of Utah. UTA began planning light rail projects in the Salt Lake Valley before 1990 when a proposal to use sales tax to build a light rail line was defeated by voters. After several more years of debating, light rail was approved in 1995. The Federal Government stepped in to fund much of the cost when Salt Lake City was awarded the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. The Salt Lake-Sandy Transit Express (TRAX) line, which traveled North-South, was completed in December 1999. In 1998, planning began for an East-West line which would connect the University of Utah and the Salt Lake International Airport. UTA hoped to complete this line prior to the 2002 Winter Olympics. After much opposition from the Committee to Stop East-West Light Rail and others, work began on the new line in June 2000. In December 2001 the new line opened, reaching Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah (the airport link was not constructed). Ironically, the University line carried none of the spectators to the Opening and Closing Olympic Ceremonies as the Secret Service feared that terrorists could use the trains to carry explosives (this decision was made in May 2001, four months prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and three years prior to the Madrid train bombings). In January 2002 UTA and the University of Utah signed an agreement to extend the line to the University Medical Center. The extension opened in September 2003. During 2005, the East-West University Line had about 15,300 weekday riders during the regular school year.