PROVO, Utah -- A new way to travel along the Wasatch Front continues to run tests before taking full-time passengers.
After four years and $850 million, the new line between Salt Lake City and Provo will begin service on Dec. 10.
The full trip will take about an hour as trains reach 79 miles per hour.
The FrontRunner South line stretches 45 miles and stops at seven stations: Murray Central, South Jordan, Draper, Lehi, American Fork, Orem and Provo. It also connects to the current FrontRunner system in Davis and Weber Counties.
The new line is part of a larger transportation plan for Utah County.
"This is the first time we have had a commuter route in Salt Lake County. We had it from Weber and Davis Counties into Salt Lake City, but this is the first time that the most populated county in the state has commuter rail," said Gerry Carpenter, UTA spokesman. "The second most populated county, Utah County, is also part of this route, so there is going to be a lot more people who have an opportunity to benefit from this."
With the growing population in Utah County, UTA is trying to accommodation more commuters and clear up automobile traffic in Salt Lake and Utah Counties.
UTA said they hope to have 8,600 passengers will use the new line each day.
On Saturday, December 8, the Utah Transit Authority is offering free test rides to the public with the donation of a canned good.
