With Spring Semester a week in and the Winter Olympics less than a month out, the U’s parking situation is and will continue to be in dire straights.

Consequently, the new university TRAX line is being called upon to deliver messianic results in the quest to solve the ever-inflamed issue of too many cars for too few spaces at the U.

Is TRAX delivering?

Utah Transit Authority spokesman Kris McBride said that while all ridership numbers were preliminary, the university line was drawing an estimated 5,000 people per day?far greater than the 4,100 UTA had predicted.

At first glance, that would appear to be a boon to both the U and UTA.

However, while one official said that “it’s a good problem to have high ridership,” he also acknowledged a danger inherent within those numbers.

While the north/south UTA line, which accommodates some 19,000 people per day, usually carries three cars per train, the university line?while equipped with the potential to carry up to four?usually only has two. More passengers on fewer cars equals overcrowding.

Some riders are reduced to standing in the train’s stairwells?a dangerous proposition?and those who attempt to catch the TRAX at a later stop run the risk of not having room to get on at all.

Concern regarding this inconvenience, however, may be premature, given that, by Thursday, ridership totals were significantly down, and some are concerned that interest is already waning.

Ultimately, both UTA and U students have inherent responsibilities in this situation.

Parking at the U is not getting better anytime soon, so students must continue to use the TRAX system increasingly as a form of transportation to the university. UTA, meanwhile, must look through every nook and cranny of its strained budget to find the funds necessary to purchase the extra train cars the San Jose Transit system is looking to sell, so U students have plenty of safe, efficient trains to ride.

If both groups can do their part, everyone will be much the better for it.