But Davis County leaders maintain the hub is too far away from downtown and northern riders wouldn't want to ride all the way to the hub, only to have to backtrack their way to downtown. Some Davis leaders think the North Temple station will eventually mean most, if not all, commuter rail passengers will never make it to the hub.

"In order to ride TRAX into downtown Salt Lake you would've had to take commuter rail all the way to the intermodal hub," Rep. Stuart Adams, R-Layton said. "They've corrected that and now we've got a transfer station at North Temple."

Jones agreed that when the North Temple station opens many commuters will use it instead of traveling all the way to the hub.

"We anticipate quite a few people will do that," he said.

Lingering site issues notwithstanding, the city's long awaited hub will be dedicated Tuesday and will open for business later this month.

Greyhound Bus Line will open for business toward the end of July, moving from its long-standing location at 160 W. South Temple. That site is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has plans to include it in its massive downtown redevelopment effort.

For the next 2 1/2 years, Greyhound will be fairly lonely at the hub. There are plans to move Amtrak into the hub but details are still being worked out and there is no time frame. Currently, Amtrak is operating in a small, makeshift shack about a block south of the hub.

In early 2008, commuter rail through Davis County to Ogden is expected to come online and a TRAX light rail spur is also expected to connect the hub with the rest of Salt Lake County's light rail system.

When the rail service begins, UTA plans to make the hub a major bus transfer station as well, Jones said, adding that UTA doesn't plan on putting bus service there until commuter rail is a reality.

Taxis are also expected to have significant service to and from the hub.

A small retail presence is expected at the hub. The building is set up to include airport-style kiosks that could offer coffee, food, newspapers, magazines and other goods.

All this comes at a hefty price.

To date, the hub has cost $21 million in taxpayer dollars and when commuter rail service begins an additional $32 million will be needed to connect the county's light rail line to the hub. That funding has not yet been obtained.

Transit officials, however, remain optimistic about getting the money.

Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, has been key in securing federal funds for the hub and other transit projects, said D.J. Baxter, Anderson's senior adviser. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Bennett is positioned to get federal matching dollars for transit projects. He will be on hand Tuesday for the dedication.

"He is able to get money earmarked for projects like these," Baxter said. "He's a huge transit supporter and has been enormously helpful on this project."

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E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com