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Transit planners moved one step closer today to a key decision that will have a profound impact on future development of the south end of Salt Lake County. What is now open space will likely soon become a major transit hub.
Halfway between Salt Lake and Provo, one of eight new stops is being mapped out for what is now mostly open space along the Union Pacific rail corridor.
A few blocks west of the big IKEA store, the Utah Transit Authority is weighing four locations -- three in Draper, one in Bluffdale -- for a key stop, the only one between Sandy and Thanksgiving Point.
"We feel like we have a vision for that area. It can be an area where people can live and work and shop in one walkable community. They can have access to transit without having a community that's not dependent on the automobile all the time," said Draper City Councilman Jeff Stenquist.
No matter which site is chosen for the location for the FrontRunner stop, it will change the character of this part of the Salt Lake County, undoubtedly bringing more growth.
In fact, Draper's City Council recently made an unprecedented zoning change, allowing buildings of unlimited height and density in the project area, a move some residents criticize. But UTA's board voted to support that agreement today.
All four sites are centrally located, near to I-15, with 150 acres of prime developable land directly adjacent. The final decision will hinge, in part, on which site seems most likely to bring new riders on board.
"So ridership is the primary criteria, in addition the proximity of the Draper stations to Bangerter is a plus. The availability of transit-oriented development around the station, because the enhances ridership," said Bruce Jones, general counsel for UTA.
UTA's general manager expects to make a decision before the end of the year. The new line should be up and running by 2015.
For more on FrontRunner and this decision, click the related links to the right of this story.
E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com
