Transportation Keeps Utah Linked to the Rest of the Country... and the World

While Utah enjoys all of the elements that make the West such a storied place to live -- dramatic landscapes, friendly and easy-going people, a varied history -- the state itself is not the remote location that people sometimes imagine when they think of Utah. In fact, Utah is a centralized, low-cost distribution point for the entire Western U.S.

Unlike the more remote cities of the West, Utah's goods remain affordable because the state is a central hub for distribution to other major western cities and states. The state has one- to two-day access to half the nation's population. It is a one-day truck drive from almost every major city in the Western U.S. And main rail lines link the state directly to the major seaports of Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, and Seattle.

Utah natives can travel anywhere within the country or around the world via the Salt Lake International Airport, which has 13 airlines offering nearly 1,000 daily departures. The airport is a Delta hub, and has non-stop service to over 100 different cities.

Moreover, residents of Utah, whether traveling for work or for leisure, can move about easily within their own state. The Utah Transit Authority spent millions to develop a public transportation system that delivers people up and down the Wasatch Front. The TRAX light rail lines bring travelers from Salt Lake City to Sandy, or to and from the University of Utah. The TRAX system is expanding and will soon offer more east-west access, including lines from downtown Salt Lake City to the airport, according to the Economic Development Corporation of Utah. A commuter rail line, which brings workers from Salt Lake County to and from the northern end of Weber County, was recently completed, and an extension is underway. The bus system is extensive, as well, with bus routes covering 1,400 square miles.