The 3500 South MAX line connects Magna with the West Valley Intermodal Hub in West Valley City and the Millcreek TRAX Station in South Salt Lake along a route on 3500/3300 South. Costs for the project totaled $7 million ; a light rail extension along the same route would have cost $100 million. Each of the initial 22 stations along the MAX line were designed by University of Utah architecture students. The 3500 South MAX runs Monday through Saturday from about 6:00 am to midnight to coincide with the TRAX schedule. Original plans were to discontinue MAX service between the Millcreek and West Valley Central TRAX Stations once the West Valley extension of the TRAX Green Line was completed. However, said service still continues years after the Green Line opened. The 3500 South MAX connects with the TRAX Green Line at the West Valley Central Station and with the Blue and Red lines at the Millcreek Station. The Green Line provides service from West Valley City to the Salt Lake City International Airport via Downtown Salt Lake City, the Blue Line provides service from Draper to Downtown Salt Lake City, and the Red Line provides service from the University of Utah to the Daybreak Community in South Jordan in southwest Salt Lake Valley. Once it is completed, the 3500 South MAX with also connect with the 5600 West MAX BRT line near 3500 South and 5600 West. All of UTA's TRAX and FrontRunner trains and stations, streetcars and streetcar stops, and all fixed route buses are compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act and are therefore accessible to those with disabilities. However, ADA boarding on MAX's unique buses is at the center door, rather than the front. In accordance with the Utah Clean Air Act and UTA ordinance, "smoking is prohibited on UTA vehicles as well as UTA bus stops , TRAX stations, and FrontRunner stations".
Route
The 3500 South MAX is designated as UTA Route 35M.
Magna Loop
The "Magna Loop" is only included in about half of the 3500 South MAX runs, with the morning runs eastbound to the Millcreek Station starting with the Magna Loop and the afternoon and evening runs westbound to Magna ending with the Magna Loop. The Magna Loop runs counterclockwise through Magna beginning at the westbound 8400 West Station and ends at the eastbound 8400 West Station. As there are no MAX stations within the Magna Loop, along this section of the line the 3500 South MAX line acts as a local bus and stops at all designated bus stops as requested. The first stop for the Magna Loop is at 3435 South on 8400 West. Heading north on South 8400 West it has a stop at 3175 South before crossing West 3100 South. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has designated the parking lot for its chapel at 3084 South 8400 West as a Park and Ride lot. The next stops in the Magna Loop on South 8400 West are at 3049 South, 2975 South, 2889 South, and 2835 South. Heading west on Magna Main Street it has stops at 8574 West, 8720 West, 8798 West, and 9038 West before turning south on South 9150 West. Heading south on South 9150 West it immediately has a stop at 2702 South, followed by 2832 South, 2930 South, and 3004 South before turning west again onto West 3100 South. Continuing west it has a stop at 9196 West 3100 South before turning south again on South 9200 West. At about 3300 South the road curves to the southeast and South 9200 West becomes Copperbend Road. At about 8975 West, the road curves to the east and Copperbend Road becomes West 3500 South. Completing the Magna Loop on West 3500 South are stops at 8927 West, 8535 West, and 8385 West before it crosses South 8400 West and ends the Magna Loop at the 8400 West Station.
Magna to Millcreek Station (eastbound)
Starting in Magna, the first station on the 3500 South MAX eastbound line is the 8400 West Station. From this station it heads east on West 3500 South to the 8000 West Station. Heading east it crosses South 8000 West before reaching the 7200 West Station. Just after crossing South 7200 West, it leaves Magna and enters West Valley City. Continuing east it crosses South 6400 West and reaches the 6400 West Station. The LDS Church has designated the parking lot for its chapel at 3450 South 6400 West as a Park and Ride lot. From the 6400 West Station it continues east, passing the north end of South 6000 West and crossing South 5600 West; just east of South 5600 West, West 3500 South expands back to five lanes. Immediately after crossing West 5600 West is the 5600 West Station and the UTA Park and Ride at 5527 West 3500 South. From that station it continues east to pass the north end of South 5200 West and cross South 4800 West before reaching the 4800 West Station. Continuing east it crosses South 4400 West, passes by the south side of Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley Campus, and crosses South 4000 West before reaching the 4000 West Station. After South 4000 West, West 3500 South widens to six lanes. Continuing east the 3500 South MAX crosses Bangerter Highway and the two center lanes of West 3500 South become dedicated lanes for MAX use only. Further east it quickly reaches the 3600 West Station, with the station being located in the median of 3500 South. Continuing east it crosses South 3200 West and then reaches South 2700 West ; just west of South 2700 West the MAX dedicated lanes end. At South 2700 West the 3500 South MAX turns south onto southbound lanes of South 2700 West. It then turns west onto a one-way section of West 3590 South and passes between the West Valley City Police Department and the West Valley City Hall before immediately reaching its next stop, the West Valley Intermodal Hub. Immediately after this stop, it heads north on South 2810 West until it reaches West 3500 South once again. The 3500 South MAX then heads east once again on West 3500 South, this time crossing South 2700 West before passing by the north end of Valley Fair Mall and crossing under I-215. Just east of I-215 the 3500 South MAX reaches the Decker Lake Drive Station and then crosses South 2200 West. East of South 2200 West, West 3500 South has seven lanes. Heading east it crosses Redwood Road before reaching the Redwood Station. Just east of that station, West 3500 South curves slightly to the north to become West 3400 South. Following this street, the 3500 South MAX reaches the 1200 West Station and immediately passes the north end of South 1200 West where after West 3400 South curves due east and becomes West 3300 South. Immediately thereafter the 3500 South MAX crosses over the Jordan River and leaves West Valley City before entering South Salt Lake. Continuing east on West 3300 South it crosses South 900 West and reaches the 900 West Station, which is just north of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office complex. After passing the Sheriff's Office, the 3500 South MAX continues east on West 3300 South and passes by the north end of South 500 West before crossing under I-15. Just after I-15 it heads north on South 300 West to Gregson Avenue. It then heads east on Gregson Avenue until it turns south on South 230 West. Finally, it continues south until it reaches the end of the line at the Millcreek Station.
Millcreek Station to Magna (westbound)
The westbound route back to Magna is very similar to the eastbound route from Magna, but there are a few differences. Starting at the Millcreek Station, the westbound 3500 South MAX heads south briefly on South 230 West before heading west on West 3300 South. After crossing South 300 West and crossing under I-15, it crosses South 900 West before reaching the 900 West Station, which is just north of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office complex. Continuing west is crosses over the Jordan River. After the Jordan River it reaches the 1200 West Station. After that station West 3300 South curves south to become West 3400 South and then curves back to due west to become West 3500 South. After crossing Redwood Road, the 3500 South MAX reaches the Redwood Road Station. Continuing west it reaches the Decker Lake Drive Station. After crossing South 2200 West, it crosses under I-215 and reaches South 2700 West. At South 2700 West it turns south and follows the same route to and from the West Valley Intermodal Hub as the eastbound 3500 South MAX, except that upon reaching West 3500 South again, it heads west. Continuing west on West 3500 South it crosses South 3200 West and South 3600 west before reaching the 3600 West Station end and the 3500 South MAX crosses Bangerter Highway before reaching the 4000 West Station. After that station it crosses South 4000 West; and West 3500 South narrows to five lanes. Heading further west, it passes by the south side of the Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley Campus and then crosses South 4400 West and South 4800 West before reaching the 4800 West Station. Following that station, it passes the north end of South 5200 West and crosses South 5600 West before reaching the 5600 West Station, which has the UTA Park and Ride just south of the eastbound 5600 West Station. West of South 5600 West, West 3500 South narrows to three lanes. Continuing west the 3500 South MAX passes the north end of South 6000 West and crosses South 6400 West before reaching the 6400 West Station, with the Park and Ride at the nearby LDS Church. Heading further west, it leaves West Valley City and enters Magna before crossing South 7200 West and reaching the 7200 West Station. From that station it heads west to cross South 8000 West and reach the 8000 West Station. Finally, it heads west until it reaches the end of the line at the 8400 South Station, unless it is an afternoon or evening run, in which case it will continue through the Magna Loop.
