North Temple Street in Salt Lake City is in the midst of a $250-million extreme makeover to prepare for an extension of the Utah Transit System’s TRAX light rail that will run 6 miles from the downtown Intermodal Transit Hub to Salt Lake City International airport.
In addition to construction of the new light-rail line, Salt Lake City planners have taken the opportunity to install new utilities and make multiple other improvements to the street, including new lighting and sidewalks. North Temple serves as a main surface-street connection from the airport to the city but has long been a troubled area with pockets of undeveloped lots, empty buildings, vagrancy and crime.