SALT LAKE CITY -- Hundreds braved the frigid temperatures to try out the new Sugar House streetcar Saturday.
The Sugar House Chamber of Commerce held a celebration to introduce the community to the new S-line and the businesses surrounding it.
It was a day years in the making,and many Sugar House residents can remember when the idea of bringing a street car to the growing Salt Lake neighborhood was first presented.
“We got really excited, and so we’ve expressed our support for the streetcar every chance we could,” Sugar House Resident Paul Stach said.
The Sugar House Chamber of Commerce planned the Saturday street car celebration.There was live music, crafts for kids, vendors and food for all.
“We really see the street car bringing people in from outside our community to shop at our local businesses and experience the really unique business community we have here,” said Lexi Banks, who is with the Sugar House Chamber of Commerce.
Local business owners are looking forward to the new S-line bringing new people to the evolving area
“It just adds a lot more variety to Salt Lake City and especially Sugar House, which is needed very badly,” said Bryan Patnode, who is the owner of Joffee’s Coffees in Sugar House.
Hundreds took advantage the public preview day. Fares were free to anyone who brought a non-perishable food item to donate to the Utah Food Bank.
The S-line runs from the TRAX Central Pointe station on 2100 South to Fairmont Park near 1100 east. Seven stops along the two-mile route will offer service every 20 minutes.
“Everybody can sit facing each other and have an ongoing rich conversation and see the world going by and not have to worry about traffic, parking, aggressive drivers,” Stach said.
For more information on the streetcar from the Utah Transit Authority, click here.
