The Utah Transit Authority is planning to hire a consultant this January to study possible transit routes west of the Bangerter Highway in Salt Lake County.

On Monday, the agency put out a request for a contractor to perform the study, which is anticipated to take one year, UTA spokeswoman Carrie Bohnsack-Ware said Wednesday. The study will review elements such as rail lines, bus routes and bus rapid-transit systems.

"They're looking at everything," Bohnsack-Ware said.

The study is estimated to cost about $700,000. The money will come from UTA, Salt Lake County and private entities, Bohnsack-Ware said.