Monday’s downtown commute turned into a headache outside the Delta Center when a TRAX train collided with a vehicle, grinding traffic to a halt and stalling rail service in one of Salt Lake City’s busiest corridors.
The crash, reported shortly before 3 p.m. near 300 West and South Temple, left a TRAX train sitting across the intersection while crews shut the area down and worked to sort out the mess, according to KUTV. Utah Transit Authority staff told the station they had no immediate information on how the collision happened or whether anyone was hurt. In the meantime, riders watched the clock as Green and Blue line trains were delayed up to 25 minutes.
The Utah Department of Transportation temporarily closed both directions of U.S. 89 in the area and told KUTV it expected the intersection to reopen around 4 p.m., once the scene was cleared and service could safely resume.
Not the first disruption
TRAX collisions have rattled downtown service before. On Dec. 31, a car and train tangled at Main Street and 200 South, briefly halting service and sending the car’s driver to a hospital for evaluation, according to Gephardt Daily. Authorities said the driver’s injuries were believed to be minor, but the incident was another reminder that a single crash can ripple through street traffic and rail schedules across downtown.
Check before you travel
Drivers and riders were warned to plan for lingering delays while crews finished clearing the tracks and reopening the intersection. For the latest on closures and detours, travelers can use the state’s live tools, such as the UDOT Traffic website and the 511 phone line, according to UDOT Traffic. Transit riders are urged to review UTA service alerts before heading out, with agency staff remaining on scene Monday as operations were brought back online.
