Ballpark (UTA station)

Ballpark
Utah Transit Authority (UTA) TRAX light rail station
A view to the north, taken from the far south end of the platform, highlighting the non-revenue siding and mural painted across from the station
Location	180 West 1300 South Salt Lake City, Utah[1]  United States
Coordinates	40°44′32″N 111°53′48.5″W / 40.74222°N 111.896806°W / 40.74222; -111.896806
Owned by	UTA
Line(s)	Utah Transit Authority (UTA):   Blue Line   Red Line   Green Line
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	1 set of double tracks and 1 single non-revenue[Note 1] siding
Connections	UTA local bus, U Car Share
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Parking	170 free spaces[1]
Bicycle facilities	3 paid lockers
Disabled access	Yes
History
Opened	4 December 1999[3]
Services
Preceding station   Utah Transit Authority   Following station 900 South toward Salt Lake Central Blue Line Central Pointe toward Draper Town Center 900 South toward University Medical Center Red Line Central Pointe toward Daybreak Parkway 900 South toward Airport Green Line Central Pointe toward West Valley Central   Former services   900 South toward University Medical Center Sandy/University Line Central Pointe toward Sandy Civic Center
Location

Ballpark^{[Note 2]} is a light rail station in the People's Freeway neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States, served by all three lines of Utah Transit Authority's TRAX light rail system. The Blue Line provides service from Downtown Salt Lake City to Draper. The Red Line provides service from the University of Utah to the Daybreak Community of South Jordan. The Green Line provides service from the Salt Lake City International Airport to West Valley City (via Downtown Salt Lake City).

Description

The station is located at 180 West 1300 South (1300 South is a major east-west route through Salt Lake City and the station is easily accessed from that street). It is about a half a block northwest of the Smith's Ballpark, home to the Salt Lake Bees.^[12] Two driveways from 1300 South allow access to the station by vehicles and buses from the south side of the station. Sidewalks on 1300 South and Lucy Lane to the north allow pedestrian and bicycle access.^[13][14] There is direct access to the platform from the sidewalk on the north side of 1300 South. The 1300 South cross street provides direct access to the major north-south arterial roads—West Temple Street, Main Street and State Street (US 89) to the east and 300 West and Interstate 15/80 to the west. The station has a Park and Ride lot with 170 free parking spaces available.^{[1][Note 3]} There is also a dedicated parking space is allocated to U Car Share, a carsharing company operating in Salt Lake City. The station was opened on 4 December 1999 and is operated by the Utah Transit Authority.

All of UTA's TRAX and FrontRunner trains and stations, as well as all fixed route buses, are compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act and are therefore accessible to those with disabilities.^[16] Signage at the stations, on the passenger platforms, and on the trains clearly indicate accessibility options. Ramps on the passenger platform and assistance from the train operator may be necessary for wheelchair boarding on Blue Line (weekdays only). These ramps are not used on weekends or on the Red or Green Lines. In accordance with the Utah Clean Air Act and UTA ordinance, "smoking is prohibited on UTA vehicles as well as UTA bus stops, TRAX stations, and FrontRunner stations".^[17]

History

Ballpark is near the point where the Salt Lake and Utah interurban streetcar line crossed the first mainline built south from Salt Lake City (which has been known by many names, but is most associated with the Union Pacific Railroad). The TRAX tracks north of the station follow the old route of the Salt Lake and Utah, while the tracks south of the area follow those used by Union Pacific. The electrified spur track visible to the northwest of the current station is the northern continuation of the original Union Pacific mainline; only a few traces of the southern continuation of the Salt Lake and Utah line (which headed due southwest to the vicinity of UTA's Redwood Junction station before turning south) remain.

In 1997, when planning for the rebuilt Sandy/Salt Lake line, UTA had envisioned that the area around the station would go through an urban renewal, with some of the older houses renovated and new multi-family living constructed around the station. However, UTA property manager Richard Swenson admitted that, "I don't think developers have caught the vision yet."^[18] The station was part of the original TRAX line (now the Blue Line), which opened 4 December 1999.^[3] Students from the nearby Horizonte Instruction and Training Center painted a mural along the side of one of the businesses that are located along the west side of the station in 2000, which were frequent targets for graffiti artists. A Salt Lake City official stated that these murals help keep down graffiti because "...the gangs for some reason respect that kind of artwork."^[19]

The Park and Ride lot was filled to capacity on most nights during the 2002 Winter Olympics due to the high use of TRAX and buses by locals and spectators.^[20] In 2003, Ballpark had the third highest auto-theft numbers out of all TRAX stations, behind Historic Sandy and Sandy Civic Center.^[21] On 31 October 2006, then-governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. held a press conference at the station to support Proposition 3, which instituted a quarter-cent raise in the state's sales tax in Salt Lake and Utah counties. Proposition 3 included funding for FrontRunner and, at the time, 33 unknown projects in Salt Lake County.^[22][23]

Services

The single island platform, capable of serving up to four-car trains,^[24] is located on the west side of the 3.2-acre (1.3 ha) property. Two shelters are located on the platform covering small seating areas, with pictures of former Salt Lake Bees players lining the inside canopy.^[25]

On 18 August 2009, U Car Share started providing carsharing services with public pick up and drop off stops at several different TRAX stations as well as the University of Utah campus.^[26] Three secured bicycle lockers are also located on the facility, but must be rented from UTA in advance for an annual fee.^[27] Three ticket machines are located on the platform that provide single-ride, round trip, and all day passes, as well as family and discounted fare tickets. The ticket machines are cash-only and provide change in dollar coins and quarters only.^[28] TRAX ticket machines used to accept UTA fare tokens, which are still accepted on buses. On 1 September 2008 UTA discontinued the use of tokens at TRAX machines due to increased fraud.^[29]

Train schedules

Train schedules are current as of Change Day, 8 December 2013.

Blue Line

On weekdays the first northbound Blue Line train (to the Salt Lake Central Station) leaves the Ballpark Station at about 5:15 am and the first southbound train (to the Draper Town Center Station) leaves at about 6:00 am. The last northbound train leaves at 11:04 pm and the last southbound train leaves at 11:47 pm. However, the last southbound train only goes as far south as the Fashion Place West Station; the last southbound train to the Draper Town Center Station leaves at 11:02 pm.

On Saturdays the first northbound train leaves at about 6:15 am and the first southbound train leaves at about 7:15 am. The last northbound train leaves at 11:00 pm and the last northbound train leaves at 11:51 pm. However, the last southbound train only goes as far south as the next station, the Central Pointe Station; the last southbound train to the Draper Town Center Station leaves at 11:11 pm.

On Sundays the first northbound train leaves at about 9:45 am and the first southbound train leaves at about 10:30 am. The last northbound train leaves at 7:40 pm and the last southbound train leaves at 8:31 pm. However, the last southbound train only goes as far south as the next station, the Central Pointe Station; the last southbound train to the Draper Town Center Station leaves at 8:11 pm.

Blue Line trains run every fifteen minutes on weekdays and every twenty minutes on weekends.^[30]

Red Line

On weekdays the first northbound Red Line train (to the University Medical Center Station) leaves the Ballpark Station at about 4:45 am and the first southbound train (to the Daybreak Parkway Station) leaves at about 5:45 am. The last northbound train leaves at 10:54 pm and the last southbound train leaves at 11:52 pm. However, the last southbound train only goes as far south as the next station, the Central Pointe Station; the last southbound train to the Daybreak Parkway Station leaves at 11:22 pm.

On Saturdays the first northbound train leaves at about 6:30 am and the first southbound train leaves at about 7:30 am. The last northbound train leaves at 11:05 pm and the last southbound train leaves at 12:01 am (early Sunday morning). However, the last southbound train only goes as far south as the next station, the Central Pointe Station; the last southbound train to the Daybreak Parkway Station leaves at 11:22 pm.

On Sundays the first northbound train leaves at about 9:15 am and the first southbound train leaves at about 10:30 am. The last northbound train leaves at 7:45 pm and the last southbound train leaves at 8:41 pm. However, the last southbound train only goes as far south as the next station, the Central Pointe Station; the last southbound train to the Daybreak Parkway Station leaves at 7:21 pm.

Red Line trains run every fifteen minutes on weekdays and every twenty minutes on weekends.^[30]

Green Line

On weekdays the first northbound Green Line train (to the Airport Station) leaves the Ballpark Station at about 5:00 am and the first northbound train (to the West Valley Central Station) leaves at about 6:15 am. The last northbound train leaves at 10:44 pm and the last southbound train leaves at 11:57 pm. However, the last southbound train only goes as far south as the next station, the Central Pointe Station; the last southbound train to the West Valley Central Station leaves at 11:12 pm.

On Saturdays the first northbound train leaves at about 6:00 am and the first southbound train leaves at about 7:00 am. The last northbound train leaves at 10:35 pm and the last southbound train leaves at 11:46 pm.

On Sundays the first northbound train leaves at about 9:00 am and the first southbound train leaves at about 10:00 am. The last northbound train leaves at 7:15 pm and the last southbound train leaves at 8:26 pm.

Green Line trains run every fifteen minutes on weekdays and every twenty minutes on weekends.^[30]

Bus connections

Bus routes are current as of Change Day, 8 December 2013.

• UTA Route 516 - Poplar Grove / Glendale (Ballpark - Glendale - Poplar Grove - Downtown Salt Lake City, including Pioneer Park and North Temple Bridge/Guadalupe Station)

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ballpark (UTA station).

• Official UTA website
• Official TRAX website