Open house to detail Utah County's plans for rapid-transit buses

OREM — Utah Valley residents have been given another chance to learn about a bus rapid-transit system that could be operating in two cities within five years.

An open house is scheduled for Wednesday to gauge interest in a transportation plan that officials see as the most efficient, safe and cost-effective for congested Utah Valley. The meeting will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Provo City Library at Academy Square.

Chad Eccles, project manager, said an 8.7-mile bus rapid-transit system — from University Mall in Orem to the Provo Towne Centre — would cost $78.9 million.

A light-rail system for the same area and distance would cost $324 million, according to estimates.

The buses could handle a daily ridership of 17,300 people and would cost $2.9 million to operate annually, compared to paying out $4.8 million for light rail to handle 23,900 per day.

The capital cost for bus rapid transit is $9.06 million per mile, compared to $37.2 million per mile for light rail.

The buses could pick up customers every five minutes during peak times and every 15 minutes during off-peak hours.

"We think we'll be very compatible with the needs of the public with a bus rapid-transit system," Eccles said. "It's faster. It's safe, dependable, something we know people want."

The high-tech, low-emission buses would be built to run within guideways, which are narrower than regular traffic lanes, but the buses also would have rubber wheels so they could move on the roadway if needed.

Plans call for using buses with low floors for better access by the handicapped and those using wheelchairs. The buses would be articulated so they could weave around curves without difficulty, and have multiple doors for maximum access.

The buses would need to have an exclusive right-of-way to their lanes of travel, and signal lights would be set to reduce stop times and provide a jump on the green lights at intersections.

"These will be more direct with a one-way travel time of 26 minutes," Eccles said. "In years to come, the (bus) system will be faster than traveling in your car."

Riders would pay $1 to $2 for a ticket, officials estimate.

Bus rapid-transit systems are already in place and working well in a number of communities, including Eugene, Ore., and Las Vegas, Eccles said.

It could play a big part in helping Utah County deal with an expected population growth.

If estimates hold steady, Utah Valley will have 690,000 residents by 2030, including a student population of 60,000.

Plans also call for the bus system to tie in with a commuter rail line expected to come through Utah County on the west side of I-15 and with regular UTA bus routes and neighborhood connecter buses.

What is now being worked out are the preferred routes and station locations.

After Wednesday's hearing, work will begin on an environmental impact study, and funding options will be investigated.

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