Commuter rail one step closer

The Utah Transit Authority on Tuesday released a study of extending commuter rail to Provo that moves the transit line one step closer to construction, perhaps as early as next year.

The study reviewed factors such as the impact of commuter rail on nearby homes, businesses and the environment. Residents are invited to comment on the study during the next 30 days, and UTA will respond to all comments.

Once the comment period has ended, UTA said it plans to release a document that will effectively end the agency's three-year study of commuter rail to Provo.

UTA has said the line could be built as early as 2012 or 2013. Stations are planned for Murray, Sandy/South Jordan, Draper/Bluffdale, Lehi, American Fork, Vineyard, Orem and Provo.

The Murray station will have a direct connection to UTA's TRAX light-rail line, and will provide access to the new Intermountain Healthcare hospital at 5300 South and State Street. Other commuter-rail stations will have buses to connect with TRAX.

When built, the commuter-rail line is planned to extend about 45 miles from Provo to Salt Lake City, linking with a segment of commuter rail now under construction in Davis and Weber counties. The 44-mile Davis/Weber line stretches from Salt Lake City to Pleasant View, and is expected to open in April 2008.

UTA plans to use local sales-tax dollars, approved by voters last November, to fund the Provo to Salt Lake City line.

To send comment, log on to: rideuta.com, or call: 1-800-RIDE-UTA. Copies of the study are also available at several libraries in Salt Lake and Utah counties. A list is available on UTA's Web site.

---

E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com