FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 27, 1998
Contact: Carrie Hyun
Tel: (202) 366-5565
DOT 35-98
PRESIDENT
CLINTON ANNOUNCES $64.5 MILLION IN
SALT LAKE CITY GRANTS TO PREPARE FOR 2002 WINTER OLYMPICS
SALT LAKE CITY -- President Clinton today announced two Federal Transit Administration grants totaling $64.5 million for the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) that will expand its transit system to serve visitors to the 2002 Winter Olympics as well as help expand transportation services for Salt Lake City residents and businesses. The UTA will receive $63.2 million to continue construction of the Salt Lake Light Rail Line and $1.3 million to purchase seven new transit buses and related equipment.
Construction of the system is underway and is planned for completion by December 2000, a year before the 2002 Winter Olympics. The cost of the LRT is estimated to be about $312 million.
"Hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics will be a great opportunity for our nation and for Salt Lake City," President Clinton said. "As we improve the city’s transportation system, it will not only help us host the Olympics, but also strengthen the Salt Lake City’s economy and quality of life."
"The impact of this project will be international in reach during the next Winter Games showcasing America’s strength bringing people together through transportation," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater. "New transit systems and projects also will mean short and long-term jobs in Utah as well as improved mobility, improved safety, less air pollution and reduced traffic congestion."
The projects to be funded by these grants include:
$63.2 million for the third increment of funding for construction, which includes a 15-mile at-grade Light Rail Transit (LRT) system with 17 new stations and 23 new cars. The LRT will start at Delta Center station on South Temple Street in downtown Salt Lake City and travel south to Sandy, connecting to major activity centers. All suburban stations will be fully accessible to persons with disabilities and will include park-and-ride lots and connecting bus service. A multi-year full funding grant agreement between the FTA and the UTA was signed in August 1995 with a federal commitment of $241 million. The total federal funding for this project to date is $121.48 million. A full funding agreement is the federal government's commitment to support a transit project over the course of several fiscal years, contingent upon the availability.
$1.3 million to UTA to purchase seven new transit buses, which will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other equipment.
The new buses, will upgrade the UTA transit fleet and be integrated into UTA's existing system for expanded service. The new buses will increase service reliability and reduce maintenance costs. These buses will also be used to provide service to the spectators expected to visit Salt Lake City for the Winter Olympics in 2002.
"The transportation system in this country is in better shape than it has been in years," said Federal Transit Administrator Gordon J. Linton. "With projects such as this, we will continue to meet the needs of the traveling public."
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