The Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) Traction Power Substation Rehabilitation Program, designed by STV and delivered in partnership with C3M Power Systems, has received a 2026 National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Project Excellence Award in the Transportation & Infrastructure category.
The award recognizes the successful modernization of critical traction power infrastructure supporting UTA’s TRAX light rail system. Working within an active operating environment, the project team rehabilitated 20 traction power substations, upgraded electrical switchgear and enhanced supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) networks to improve system reliability, operational visibility and long-term transit capacity.
As lead designer and engineer-of-record, STV provided systems engineering leadership across traction power, SCADA integration, communications and construction phasing. A key challenge was modernizing essential infrastructure while maintaining safe and reliable rail operations for riders throughout construction.
“This award recognizes the strength of collaboration among UTA, C3M Power Systems and STV, as well as the careful planning required to modernize critical rail infrastructure in an active operating environment,” said Ja-Mie Luey, PE, vice president and engineering chief at STV. “By taking a systems-focused approach that integrated traction power, communications and control systems, the team delivered improvements that enhance reliability today while supporting the long-term evolution of UTA’s network.”
The project is part of UTA’s broader TRAX Forward modernization initiative and reflects a systems-based approach to infrastructure renewal that emphasizes coordination across power, controls, communications and operations.
