Draper working on rail stop location

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DRAPER, Utah (AP) -- The Utah Transit Authority wants to know soon where Draper wants to put a new commuter rail stop.

There are several options for the new commuter rail line project, but the City Council is trying to decide on one. The chosen spot will be the center of a project that would feature buildings much taller than any currently allowed in the city.

The City Council has discussed creating a new zoning ordinance that would allow for skyscrapers, retail shops and office space, but members say they want to move cautiously.

"In our town, we're no longer thinking the same," Councilman Bill Colbert said. "We only get one shot to do this, and we've got to do it right."

Once completed, the rail line will run from Ogden to Utah County.

The Utah Transit Authority has pledged to build a stop in Draper, contingent upon the City Council's vote to rezone. The stop had been planned for Bluffdale, where UTA owns land, but would rather build in Draper, UTA attorney Bruce Jones said.

UTA has told Draper it needs a decision by the end of the month so it can move forward with design plans.

Draper staffers will meet with UTA and the governor's office in the next few weeks to discuss possibilities. A City Council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 5.

Draper also is planning to accommodate a TRAX stop near City Hall. The city has put on hold plans to renovate the historic Park School, saying its location near the planned light rail stop could provide a great place for additional transit-oriented development.