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Salt Lake City CRA briefs board on $43.6 million Sugar House S-Line extension; formal vote set for tonight
Summary
City staff briefed the Community Reinvestment Agency on a proposed $43,567,129 extension of the Sugar House S-Line with Utah Transit Authority, outlining route, safety improvements, funding sources and a construction timeline that targets service start in August 2027; the CRA will consider a formal resolution later tonight.
City staff presented the Community Reinvestment Agency (CRA) with details of a proposed interlocal agreement (ILA) with the Utah Transit Authority to extend the Sugar House S-Line east from its current Fairmont Station terminus.
The presentation, introduced at the table by Tracy Jerman, outlined the roughly quarter-mile extension along Sugarmont Drive and Simpson Avenue, including a new station south of the current theater and exclusive streetcar track between McClelland Street and 1100 East. "UTA is really running this project. It's their project and we're really grateful to have such good partners," Jerman said, attributing primary construction and operations responsibility to UTA while noting the city will assume some local maintenance tasks such as landscaping.
Why it matters: staff said the project will add three new traffic signals (at McClelland & Sugarmont, 1100 East, and Highland Drive) to address pedestrian-safety concerns and will reconstruct roadway and utility infrastructure while building the extension.
Funding and costs: presenters gave a total project cost of $43,567,129, saying most funding comes from state appropriations (including a 2021 legislative appropriation) and federal TIGER funds, with a substantial local match from UTA. The city is providing property valued at about $5 million and contributing $395,000, described as the estimated cost to rebuild the roadway if needed. The CRA will contribute funds to demolish on-site structures (identified as the DI building, a fire station and other buildings) to prepare for redevelopment and the new terminus.
Schedule and approvals: staff said demolition and utility work are expected to begin in May, pending ILA approval by the CRA board, Salt Lake City Council and the UTA board. Construction was estimated at 13 months with a subsequent testing period; staff gave an anticipated passenger service start of August 2027. "If everything goes according to plan, we'll start construction in May," the presenter said.
Board reaction and next steps: a councilmember and other board participants thanked staff and partner agencies for coordination; staff singled out UDOT and the Transportation Commission as active partners in oversight. The CRA chair noted that the board will take formal action on the S-Line resolution later in the CRA's formal meeting tonight and that the city council will consider a related ILA on its agenda that evening.
The board received the briefing; no binding vote was recorded at this limited meeting. The ILA and related resolutions were scheduled for formal consideration later in the evening at the CRA and City Council meetings.
