There are approximately 9.7 million TRAX rides given per year in Salt Lake County, and since their debut in 1999, the trains have fatally struck four people.
The addition of the new TRAX extension running through campus-scheduled to open on Sept. 29-poses a danger to students and faculty, according to administrators.
“It increases the potential of an accident,” said Stayner Landward, dean of students.
While the TRAX conductor has the ability to stop the train to avoid collisions, it takes a train 600 feet to stop, illustrating the potential danger to students on a campus with more than 30,000 pedestrians.
On the one hand, according to Utah Transit Authority Public Relations Specialist Brandon Bott, the accident rate caused by the light rail system in Utah “is lower than the national average.”
“Some cities have five to six fatalities a year,” he said.
However, now with the TRAX extension running through campus, UTA and U officials are concerned for the safety of students and faculty.
UTA is launching an educational campaign to prepare students and faculty to understand the rules to follow in order to be safe.
Bott says that those who have been in accidents seem to have been in a hurry to reach the train.
“Accidents do happen when people hurry. If you have to run, it’s not your train,” Bott said.
Bott encourages pedestrians and vehicles to pay attention to the gates and to never jaywalk.
UTA charges a $100 fine to those caught walking across the tracks outside of the crosswalks, he said.
Furthermore, the police may prosecute those caught jaywalking.
The U Crisis Response team is engaging in periodic meetings, discussing the potential of an accident or even fatality caused by the trains, and what actions to take following such an event.