Clearfield viewing transit as key to downtown upgrade

CLEARFIELD — Working-class. Industrial. Rough.

Four years ago, officials here began a process to change that image of their city. They built a new city hall, and local stores were encouraged to revamp.

The plan was to lure new development with the touch-ups and fixes. But it wasn't quite successful. Not many businesses renovated.

Now the city is studying something new: Transit-oriented development.

The sixth station along the planned Weber-County-to-Salt-Lake-City commuter rail line is here. It's planned for a site about one mile from City Hall, on a 73-acre parcel that will be used to store commuter trains overnight.

Clearfield officials want to move the site downtown. They see it as an opportunity, something to bring development and beneficial growth to the city center.

"I think it's important for our future," said City Manager Jack Bippes. "We've been sitting here and nothing has really been occurring. We don't really want to go out after large box stores. We want something nice, and that's where we're headed."

Bippes and Mayor Tom Waggoner recently met with Steve Meyer, manager of commuter rail construction for the Utah Transit Authority. They told of a plan by a city-hired marketing consultant, Economic Development Team, to revitalize downtown using transit.

"He was very amenable, and we set down some things each of us would and could do and things we couldn't do," said Waggoner. "He's going to present it to his powers that be and then we'll have some meetings."

There are some dangers in moving the station, including a possible delay of the construction schedule for commuter rail. Remaining federal approvals for the project could also be impacted.

The discussion about the possible move wasn't held until recently because UTA was waiting for federal approval of its Environmental Impact Statement for commuter rail. A change could have delayed the approval. Now, a simple adjustment of the environmental work may be all that's needed if the rail station is moved.

"That's what we need to work out," Meyer said. "We will have discussions internally and with the Federal Transit Administration to make sure we aren't jeopardizing project and schedule."

Beyond the impact to schedule and pending approvals, UTA says Clearfield must provide land for the same number of parking stalls (1,000) planned for the original station site. It must also provide similar access to Hill Air Force Base and the Freeport Center.