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There are about 35 round trips on weekdays between Salt Lake City and Ogden. Most of the FrontRunner line is single-tracked (though it runs parallel to UP tracks), with double track at stations and several other points along the line to allow trains to pass each other. [[Interstate 15 in Utah|Interstate 15]] is parallel to FrontRunner for most of the route.
There are about 35 round trips on weekdays between Salt Lake City and Ogden. Most of the FrontRunner line is single-tracked (though it runs parallel to UP tracks), with double track at stations and several other points along the line to allow trains to pass each other. [[Interstate 15 in Utah|Interstate 15]] is parallel to FrontRunner for most of the route.


FrontRunner Facts we know:

700 million dollar build cost.
15 million dollar per year for maintenance X 30 year average life ($450 million).
FrontRunner operates 313 days per year, 26 per month.
Ridership is 90,000 boardings per month, 3,462 per day, 1,731 round trips (customers) per day.
FrontRunner makes 72 one-way trips per day.
FrontRunner burns 1,600,000 gallons of fuel per year, 133,333 per month, 5,128 per day, 71 gallons of fuel per one-way trip.
Traffic on I-15 INCREASED after FrontRunner opened (UDOT traffic statistics).


Do the math:

Cost per customer per month;
700 million plus 450 million = 1.15 billion. Divide by 30 year average life of system = 38,333,333 million per year divide by 12 months = 3,194,444 million divide by 26 days = 122,863 per day. Now divide that by 1,731 customers = $70.98 per day X 26 days = $1,845.43 per month. A monthly pass costs $160. Tax subsidy is $1,685.43 per month per customer.

Average Ridership per one-way trip;
90,000 boardings divided by 26 days = 3,461.54 boardings per day, divided by 72 trips per day = 48.08 passengers per one-way trip. FrontRunner is designed to carry 400 people.

Fuel consumption per passenger per one-way trip;
1,600,000 gallons of fuel per year divided by 12 months = 133,333.33 gallons of fuel per month divided by 26 days = 5,128.21 gallons of fuel per day divided by 72 trips = 71.23 gallons per one-way trip. Now divide that by 48.08 passengers and we burn 1.48 gallons of fuel per passenger per one-way trip.

FrontRunner costs the taxpayers $1,685.43 per month per customer.
FrontRunner averages only 48.08 passengers per one-way trip.
FrontRunner burns 1.48 gallons of fuel per passenger per one-way trip.
Traffic on I-15 INCREASED after FrontRunner opened (UDOT traffic statistics).


=== Pleasant View ===
=== Pleasant View ===

Revision as of 01:14, 21 February 2010

FrontRunner
File:Frontrunner logo.jpg
A FrontRunner train heading toward Davis County
Overview
Statusoperating
LocaleWasatch Front
Termini
Stations8
WebsiteRideUTA.com
Service
TypeCommuter rail
Route numberUTA Route Number: 750 (FrontRunner North)
UTA Route Number: 749 (FrontRunner Pleasant View)
Operator(s)Utah Transit Authority
History
OpenedApril 26, 2008[1]
Technical
Line length44 miles (71 km) total[2]
29.5 mi (47.5 km) single track
8.5 mi (13.7 km) double track[3]
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speedmax: 79 mph (127 km/h)[2]
Route map
Template:Infobox rdt

FrontRunner is a commuter rail system operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA), serving the northern portion of the Wasatch Front from Salt Lake Central Station to Ogden Union Station, plus more limited service to the final station, Pleasant View. A future expansion will provide access south from Salt Lake City to Provo, Utah, extending the line to a total of 88 miles (142 km). Ridership as of the third quarter of 2009 is below the projected 5,830 to 9,037 persons per day traveling on the line that was predicted.

Route description

FrontRunner North

FrontRunner currently runs from Pleasant View in Weber County in the north, through Davis County, and into Salt Lake City in the south, a total length of 38 miles (61 km). Work started on this section of the line in 2005. Seven of the planned eight stations opened to riders on April 26, 2008.[1]

The route uses a portion of the right-of-way of the historic Utah Central Railroad, built by Mormons in 1869 to connect the First Transcontinental Railroad with Salt Lake City and acquired by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1878.[12] UTA-owned track parallels UP track until Ogden, where UP and UTA share the final 6 mi (9.7 km) of track to Pleasant View.

There are about 35 round trips on weekdays between Salt Lake City and Ogden. Most of the FrontRunner line is single-tracked (though it runs parallel to UP tracks), with double track at stations and several other points along the line to allow trains to pass each other. Interstate 15 is parallel to FrontRunner for most of the route.


FrontRunner Facts we know:

700 million dollar build cost. 15 million dollar per year for maintenance X 30 year average life ($450 million). FrontRunner operates 313 days per year, 26 per month. Ridership is 90,000 boardings per month, 3,462 per day, 1,731 round trips (customers) per day. FrontRunner makes 72 one-way trips per day. FrontRunner burns 1,600,000 gallons of fuel per year, 133,333 per month, 5,128 per day, 71 gallons of fuel per one-way trip. Traffic on I-15 INCREASED after FrontRunner opened (UDOT traffic statistics).


Do the math:

Cost per customer per month; 700 million plus 450 million = 1.15 billion. Divide by 30 year average life of system = 38,333,333 million per year divide by 12 months = 3,194,444 million divide by 26 days = 122,863 per day. Now divide that by 1,731 customers = $70.98 per day X 26 days = $1,845.43 per month. A monthly pass costs $160. Tax subsidy is $1,685.43 per month per customer.

Average Ridership per one-way trip; 90,000 boardings divided by 26 days = 3,461.54 boardings per day, divided by 72 trips per day = 48.08 passengers per one-way trip. FrontRunner is designed to carry 400 people.

Fuel consumption per passenger per one-way trip; 1,600,000 gallons of fuel per year divided by 12 months = 133,333.33 gallons of fuel per month divided by 26 days = 5,128.21 gallons of fuel per day divided by 72 trips = 71.23 gallons per one-way trip. Now divide that by 48.08 passengers and we burn 1.48 gallons of fuel per passenger per one-way trip.

FrontRunner costs the taxpayers $1,685.43 per month per customer. FrontRunner averages only 48.08 passengers per one-way trip. FrontRunner burns 1.48 gallons of fuel per passenger per one-way trip. Traffic on I-15 INCREASED after FrontRunner opened (UDOT traffic statistics).

Pleasant View

The station in Pleasant View was supposed to open along with the rest of the line in April 2008, but improvements to the shared stretch of track owned by Union Pacific were delayed when railroad workers were diverted to repair tracks damaged by a landslide near Oakridge, Oregon.[13] Consequently, bus service was used between the last two stations until the full 44-mile (71 km) northern leg of FrontRunner was not completed until September 29, 2008.[2][14]

However, even after the Pleasant View station opened to rail traffic, Union Pacific limited FrontRunner to just one southbound train in the morning and one northbound in the evening, and riders were required to transfer from one train to another in Ogden. In January 2009, this was increased to three trains for each morning and evening, with one running straight to/from Salt Lake City, though the other two still require transfers between trains.[15]

Expansion

FrontRunner South

44 miles (71 km) will be added to FrontRunner with the opening of the southern extension, which will expand the current southern terminus from the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub to Provo. Eight new stations will be constructed in Murray, Sandy, Draper/Bluffdale, Lehi, American Fork, Vineyard, Orem, and Provo.[16] The Utah Transit Authority began work on the line after a ground breaking ceremony on August 12, 2008, and expects to have the new section complete by 2012.[17] Funds were appropriated to accommodate this project in 2006 via a sales tax increase referendum,[18] and the remaining funding was obtained through a letter of intent signed with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on September 24, 2007.

The city of Lehi is investigating options to build overpasses or underpasses to separate the rail traffic from the downtown vehicle traffic, though the status of this is uncertain as the cost of the project is in the tens of millions of dollars.[19]

Brigham City and Payson

Future extensions are envisioned that would eventually encompass over 80 miles (130 kilometres) of the Wasatch Front, providing service as far north as Brigham City and as far south as Payson.[20] FrontRunner will be integrated with UTA's bus and TRAX light rail system.

Equipment

File:FrontRunner Bombardier interior 1.jpg
Interior of a bi-level Bombardier coach
Upper level of a bi-level Bombardier coach
File:UTA Comet I 315A interior.jpg
Interior of a Comet I coach (www.trainweb.org)

FrontRunner utilizes 11 MPXpress (MP36PH-3C)[21] locomotives from Motive Power International of Boise, Idaho, 22 new bi-level Bombardier cars and has recently repainted 25 refurbished ex-New Jersey Transit Comet Is[22] which entered service on September 17, 2008.[23] Thirty ex-Metra gallery cars were given to UTA for free, but they were determined to be in too poor of condition to refurbish, so they are being scrapped and used for spare parts for the Comet trains.[24][25]

Two months into service, Utah Transit Authority has been receiving complaints regarding the number of bicycles on the trains. The current Bombardier cars are designed to hold two bicycles near the rear doors near the back of each train, but up to 15 bicycles per car are being reported by some riders.[26] UTA is currently investigating options to increase capacity for bicycles, including more lockers at the stations.

FrontRunner North is served by 20 Bombardier bi-level cars, and will soon be joined by 15 Comet Is, while FrontRunner South will start with eighteen Bombardier bi-level cars, currently on order at a cost of $2.2 million per car, and the remaining 10 refurbished Comets.[25]

Wireless internet, provided by Nomad Digital,[27] is available on all the FrontRunner cars, including the refurbished Comet trains[25] free of charge.[28]

Current FrontRunner fleet[29]
Model Image Manufactured Road Numbers Number in Fleet Notes
MPXpress MP36PH-3C locomotives 2007 1-11 11 Another locomotive, #12, is being leased to the Metro Transit Northstar Line in Minnesota.[30]
bi-level Bombardier cabs 2006 101-112 12  
bi-level Bombardier coaches 2007 201-208 8  
Comet I coaches 1971–1973 301-325 25 Refurbished by Bombardier Transportation before entering service. At least five coaches are in service with Metrolink[31] (coaches 302,[32] 309,[33] 315,[34] 317[35] & 320[36]).
Former FrontRunner fleet
Model Image Manufactured Road Numbers Number in Fleet Notes
Pullman bi-level gallery coaches 1960–1968 (Metra) 8749[37] & others 30 Acquired from Metra at no charge, deemed to be in too bad of shape to refurbish, being scrapped for parts for the Comet trains.[24]

Station stops

Town/City Station[2] Connections[2] Notes
Salt Lake City Central Station
North Temple Street Not scheduled to be open until completion of Airport TRAX line
800 North Beck Street   Maintenance and Storage Depot
Woods Cross Woods Cross
Farmington Farmington
Layton Layton
Clearfield Clearfield
Roy Roy
Ogden Union Station
  • UTA Bus routes: 470, 472, 473, 474 (northbound only), 476 (northbound only), 603, 604, 613, 630, 632, 685
Pleasant View Pleasant View

References

  1. ^ a b "UTA Announces FrontRunner Grand Opening Date!" (ASP) (Press release). Utah Transit Authority. 2008-03-26. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e "FrontRunner Fact Sheet" (PDF) (Press release). Utah Transit Authority. 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  3. ^ Petersen, Marty D. (2007-02-01). "FrontRunner on the front burner: Utah's new commuter rail system is expected to be a leading transportation option for the Salt Lake City region". FindArticles. Railway Age. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
  4. ^ a b "Transit Ridership Report, Third Quarter 2009" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 23, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
  5. ^ Farver, Shane (2007-03-01). "FrontRunner announces rates". Ogden Standard-Examiner. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
  6. ^ "UTA's FrontRunner Service A Hit So Far, Crowds Show". KUTV. 2008-04-28. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
  7. ^ Giauque, Marc (2008-06-17). "UTA sees increase in ridership". KSL.com. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
  8. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Third Quarter 2008" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. December 4, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
  9. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Fourth Quarter 2008" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 5, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
  10. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, First Quarter 2009" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. June 8, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
  11. ^ "Transit Ridership Report, Second Quarter 2009" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. August 21, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
  12. ^ Don Strack, Ogden Rails (Union Pacific Historical Society), 2005, ISBN 1932704043
  13. ^ "FrontRunner forced to delay Pleasant View terminal for months". KSL.com via AP. 2008-04-13. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  14. ^ "FrontRunner begins hauling commuters from Pleasant View". via the AP. KSL.com. 2008-09-29. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  15. ^ "FrontRunner will increase its service to Pleasant View". Associated Press via Deseret News. January 24, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ UTA - FrontLines 2015: FrontRunner South
  17. ^ "UTA to Break Ground on FrontRunner South". Utah Transit Authority. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  18. ^ Choate-Nielsen, Amy (2007-04-20). "FrontRunner is outpacing plans for I-15". FindArticles. Deseret Morning News. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  19. ^ Allred, Cathy (2008-07-10). "Lehi looks into changes for railroad crossings". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  20. ^ Rybka, Richard (2006-01-23). "Commuter Rail Comes To Utah". Rocky Mountain Construction. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  21. ^ Petersen, Marty D. (2007-02). "FrontRunner on the front burner: Utah's new commuter rail system is expected to be a leading transportation option for the Salt Lake City region". via FindArticles.com. Railway Age. Retrieved 2008-07-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Richards, Mary (2008-07-01). "FrontRunner getting '70s-era rail cars". KSL.com. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  23. ^ Park, Shara (2008-09-17). "Comet cars added to FrontRunner". KSL.com. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
  24. ^ a b Fattah, Geoffrey (2004-06-30). "UTA gets 30 rail cars from Chicago — free". FindArticles. Deseret Morning News. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  25. ^ a b c Loomis, Brandon. "UTA buys East Coast rail cars". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  26. ^ Callan, Tom (2008-06-26). "Bicycles crowd out riders on commuter rail cars". KSL.com. Retrieved 2008-07-19. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ "Utah". FindArticles. Railway Age. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
  28. ^ "Internet to be available on public transportation". KSL.com. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  29. ^ "FrontRunner Vehicles". Utah Transit Authority. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
  30. ^ "Northstar ridership below Metro Transit goals". Star Tribune. December 10, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  31. ^ jim61773 (2009-07-10). "Metrolink train in Utah colors, Union Station". Flickr. Retrieved 2009-08-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ Ruaat, Sam (2009-06-22). "Metrolink 879". Flickr. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
  33. ^ SP8254 (2009-06-12). "Front Runner in So Cal". Flickr. Retrieved 2009-08-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ ksd73 (2009-06-05). "Utah Frontrunner on Metrolink". Flickr. Retrieved 2009-08-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ Non Paratus (2009-05-15). "That's a Long Commute from Utah!". Flickr. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  36. ^ Vance, Steve (2009-05-09). "Donated Metra gallery cars in UTA's yard". flickr. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
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