A Golden Moment
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By Shane Farver
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
Welding of FrontRunner tracks completed in Clearfield
CLEARFIELD -- Government and transportation officials marked a milestone on the FrontRunner commuter rail project Monday as crews performed the last rail weld and placed the last clip.
The $611 million project is now about 75 percent complete. It is expected to open in April 2008 and is projected to carry 5,900 riders on its opening day. It's projected to carry 12,600 per day in 2025.
"This is a great day for the citizens of Davis County as we are one step closer to having commuter rail service," said Davis County Commissioner Bret Millburn during a Monday afternoon news conference at the Clearfield FrontRunner station. "The FrontRunner is poised to become an integral part of the county's transportation infrastructure."
The FrontRunner will address a system in which transportation officials are struggling to keep up with growth capacity on roads, said Stuart Adams, chairman of the Utah Transportation Commission.
"We have basically a capacity-deficient system," he said.
Workers placed a clip which was painted gold on the railway, reminiscent of the golden spike at Promontory Point to signify the last clip of the commuter rail line.
A worker then ignited a thermite mixture of magnesium, steel and other ingredients in a crucible. The crucible was heated to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. A plug then dropped out and the molten mixture fell into the welding area.
Welds are performed on the rail line every 1,600 feet.
The rail line will bring new opportunities to riders from across the county, Clearfield Mayor Don Wood said.
"(Riders of) these trains that come into Clearfield City and other communities that will be served by this commuter rail will have additional opportunities as it relates to education, entertainment and recreation," he said.
The FrontRunner commuter rail project will feature 32,900 tons of rail and 112,000 concrete ties. The rail line will run from Salt Lake City to northern Weber County. It is expected to eventually be extended from Payson to Brigham City.
Seven Top of Utah cities will have FrontRunner stations.
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