West Jordan Residents Concerned About Lighting Near TRAX Station

WEST JORDAN, Utah – Residents in West Jordan are sounding the alarm over what they consider to be poor lighting near a Trax Station. They say the dark street leading into the station are a danger to riders and school children who walk down it. But there seems to be confusion over whether this is a city or UTA matter.

 “I tripped on something. I don’t know what,” said Brandy Wright, as she described the incident last Thursday evening when she was walking down a sidewalk near the Jordan Valley Trax station.

Brandy and her son had taken the Trax Line from Salt Lake City and decided to start heading in the direction of home, to stay warm, while they waited for her husband to pick them up. That is when she tripped.

“I don’t know what it was. I know that more lighting probably would have made me more aware of whatever might have caused my fall,” Wright said.

While Wright says her fall was an accident, she is concerned the lack of street lights between Itineris Early College High School and the Trax station on Norris View Lane increase the risk of accidents like hers.

“I feel like dark corners and dark areas breed crime,” Wright said.

Wright isn’t alone in her concerns.

“It is so dark,” said another resident Natalie Lyman, who says she fears for the students who regularly use the path and take the Trax to school.

“Many mornings I’ve come by and have seen girls getting off the Trax, late at night, leaving the school. My biggest fear is somebody just attacking somebody here,” Lyman said.

Lyman’s concern hits home for Wright. Last November, Wright says a stranger pinned her college-aged daughter against a wall in the well-lit parking garage where many Trax line users park.

“She got scared enough that she defended herself and injured him and he was caught,” Wright explained.

Both women addressed their concerns with UTA and the City of West Jordan but there seems to be confusion over who handles the matter.

UTA says they are sympathetic to the concerns raised and while they own the land, the fix is up to the City.

“The issue gets down to who is really in charge of that land. While UTA owns the land, there is an easement there which has been given to West Jordan as we understand it.” said Carl Arky, UTA spokesperson, “They have surface rights. Surface rights would include the curb, the gutter, the sidewalk and something such as lighting.”

The City of West Jordan says resident concerns are a top priority and they are looking into the matter. City reps say City Officials will be meeting on Friday to discuss the issue.

“The Mayor did note that there are some overgrown weeds along UTA’s right-of-way and a light just down the road a street light had burned dim. The Mayor will be speaking with UTA regarding the condition of the area surrounding their right of way, as well as contacting Rocky Mountain Power regarding the street light,” said City representatives in a statement. City crews were on scene on Thursday and said the light pole was fixed.

“We encourage residents who are walking at night to use extreme caution and utilize a flashlight, particularly in the cold winter months when the evenings get dark earlier.”