The S-Line celebrated its second birthday in December. The streetcar, which provides service from the heart of Sugar House to Central Pointe Trax Station, opened on Dec. 8, 2013.
More than 363,000 boardings were recorded on the S-Line between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, an 18.8 percent increase over boardings during the same time period in 2014. Nearly 1,700 boardings were recorded on July 4 alone, when the line stayed open late to help transport riders after the Sugar House Park fireworks show.
The S-Line reached another exciting milestone in August when its schedule was permanently extended to match that of Trax. A limited budget meant that for the first 18 months of operation, the S-Line started service later and ended earlier than Trax. Beginning Aug. 16, the S-Line offered the same hours of service as Trax, running from approximately 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
The schedule change is part of a UTA initiative to pass cost savings earned through efficient operation along to the public and allows riders to take full advantage of the growing number of shops, restaurants, and community events along the S-Line corridor.
“We’re pleased to see S-Line ridership has increased by nearly 20 percent over the last year. As the communities of Sugar House and South Salt Lake continue to grow, we expect more riders to adopt this unique form of transportation as a way to explore the neighborhood, access businesses and connect with other UTA services,” said UTA Interim CEO Jerry Benson.
As a neighborhood connector, the S-Line is designed to operate at a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour and operates alongside a bike trail and jogging path. It features seven stops along a two-mile corridor that extends from McClelland Street to 200 West.