Getting Around West Valley City
West Valley City is an inner suburb of Salt Lake City, and its layout follows the same grid system used throughout the Salt Lake Valley. That grid makes driving straightforward, and it also shapes how the transit network is organized: most services run along major north–south and east–west corridors, with a central hub tying them together.
By Car
Driving is the most flexible way to get around West Valley City. The city sits on the Salt Lake City grid system, so addresses and intersections are easy to navigate once you understand how the grid works (the Salt Lake City page has helpful background on it).
From the international airport, the simplest route is to take I-80 East to the first I-215 south exit, then continue south until you reach the exits for 3500 South. I-215 also runs near the city's downtown area, the Maverik Center, and Valley Fair Mall.
Rail: TRAX Light Rail
TRAX is the light rail system serving the Salt Lake Valley, administered by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). The Green Line begins at West Valley Central Station, the municipal center stop, and runs northeast into downtown Salt Lake City. Along the way it stops at Decker Lane, Redwood Junction, and River Trail before continuing toward the city center.
For a visitor, the Green Line is the most useful rail connection: it links West Valley City directly with downtown Salt Lake City, including Temple Square. The trip from West Valley Central Station to downtown takes roughly half an hour.
- Tickets: Fares begin at $2.35 and can be purchased at electronic ticket kiosks at TRAX stations.
- Passes: A day pass costs $5.75 and allows unlimited use of TRAX and buses for the day. A round-trip ticket costs $4.70.
- Service hours: Trains run from early morning until late evening, with somewhat later starts and earlier finishes on weekends. Check the UTA website for current schedules.
Buses and Bus Rapid Transit
UTA also operates an extensive bus system covering the entire Wasatch Range, and West Valley Central Station serves as the main transfer point for many routes. The 3500 South MAX bus rapid transit line also connects to the Fairbourne Station transit hub, alongside the TRAX Green Line.
Several routes radiate from West Valley Central Station:
- 35 and 35M — run east–west along 3500 South between the Millcreek TRAX Station and Magna, stopping at West Valley Central Station.
- 41 — connects the Meadowbrook TRAX Station to 4100 South at 5600 West, stopping at Salt Lake Community College.
- 227 — heads south along 2700 West toward the Sugar Factory TRAX stop on the Red Line.
- 232 — heads south along 3200 West toward the SLCC Jordan Campus in South Jordan.
- 240 — runs in the vicinity of 4000 West, connecting Pioneer Valley Hospital, Jordan Landing Mall in West Jordan, and the Jordan Valley TRAX Station on the Red Line.
- 248 — heads south along 4800 West, connecting to Old Bingham Highway TRAX stations on the Red Line.
- 509 — runs toward downtown Salt Lake City; Seven Peaks Water Park can be reached from this route.
- 513 and 523 — commuter-oriented business park lines that eventually end in downtown Salt Lake City; these are aimed at workers rather than tourists.
Many of these routes run about every 30 minutes. Not all lines operate every day, and bus service can be reduced or nonexistent on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, so it is worth checking timetables before you rely on a particular route.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
The source material does not describe taxi or ride-hailing services in West Valley City. Visitors should plan around the transit network and driving, or arrange rides independently.
Walkability
West Valley City is a large, suburban city, and much of its residential architecture is based on ranch-style homes from the 1960s and 1970s, with later planned developments on the western side. Walking is practical in specific districts rather than across the city as a whole.
- The Fairbourne Station area is being developed as a walkable downtown district, with a civic center, hotels, a plaza, and a public transport hub for the TRAX Green Line and the 3500 South MAX line. Valley Fair Mall, the West Valley Performing Arts Center, and the Maverik Center are nearby.
- The Highbury planned development in the northwestern part of the city is a mixed residential and commercial area with a large pond and many casual restaurants in a walkable district near 5600 West.
Elsewhere, the city is spread out, so a car or transit is generally needed to cover distance between neighborhoods.
Getting from the Airport into the City
The easiest way to reach West Valley City from the international airport by car is to take I-80 East to the first I-215 south exit, then continue south to the exits for 3500 South. Once in the city, the TRAX Green Line and the bus network based at West Valley Central Station provide connections onward to downtown Salt Lake City and other parts of the valley.