The Utah Transit Authority is about to add a new TRAX station in downtown Salt Lake City at 650 S. Main Street — about two blocks south of its Courthouse Station, and four blocks from a station at 900 S. 200 West.
The city, its redevelopment agency and developers near the new station will pay for it, said Mary DeLoretto, UTA acting chief service development officer.
The UTA Board approved a $300,000 revenue contract Wednesday with the city’s redevelopment agency to begin design of the station. Construction is expected next year.
“The original north-south TRAX plan had always projected that a future station would be needed at this location,” DeLoretto said. “In anticipation of that future need, the tracks were constructed so we could accommodate that station and easily construct it in the future.”
She said Salt Lake City requested construction of the station now because “there’s a lot of planned development, and the area is growing.”
Among projects proposed nearby is one called “650 Main” for what would eventually be two 10-story office towers — with mixed use on the ground floor — side by side at 600 S. West Temple. It is proposed by Patrinely Group, an office developer headquartered in Houston.
DeLorreto said the new station is not expected to affect TRAX schedules, nor force it to add more train cars.
UTA Board Chairman Carlton Christensen noted that when he became a member of the Salt Lake City Council in 1997, city officials then talked about how that station was expected “imminently” — so he’s happy to see it finally come more than 20 years later.
“I guess in the scope of time, it’s a small period,” he joked. “I know a number of projects have come and gone. So it’s nice to see this one actually come forward. I think it will be a good addition to that community.”
Tribune reporter Tony Semerad contributed to this report.
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