FrontRunner stop gets lots of discussion

Some environmentalists are determined to stop the Utah Transit Authority from considering a FrontRunner commuter rail stop in southern Salt Lake County on what they consider sensitive Jordan River ecology and the site of a 3,000-year-old Native American settlement, even though Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. signed a bill last week that could pave the way for the station.

A Monday meeting of 10 people — including the environmentalists, Huntsman staff members and other state employees — ended with most encouraged that the issues about the potential station, at 13500 South and the Union Pacific railway west of I-15, will be resolved through dialogue. However, one environmentalist, Jeff Salt, executive director of Spirit of Utah Wilderness and Great Salt Lake Water Keepers, says he may sue UTA to block the station.

UTA is building commuter rail to connect Salt Lake and Utah counties by 2015. UTA planners anticipate that as the population of the Draper-Bluffdale area grows, they will eventually need a station for the area and are currently planning the station to meet that future need. UTA is considering four sites: 14600 South, 14000 South, 13500 South and 12800 South.

Archaeologists and environmentalists such as Salt and Ted Wilson, executive director of the Utah Rivers Council, oppose using the 250 acres at 13500 South. The parcel is currently owned by the Utah Division of Natural Resources, but it could be swapped for private developer-owned land at 12800 South, thanks to a bill passed by the Utah Legislature and signed by Huntsman on Friday that permits the trade.

A development group called Whitewater VII Holdings wants to swap with the DNR because the 13500 South land has closer access to Bangerter Highway. Whitewater VII wants to create a "transit-oriented development" of shops and services near the UTA station, and would donate land for a platform and station.

Developer Terry Diehl, a UTA trustee, has worked for Whitewater VII, which critics have called a conflict of interest. To remove the appearance of a conflict, Diehl has recused himself from voting on the issue at UTA trustee meetings.

UTA attorney Bruce Jones says a transit-oriented development would propel the success of the station, which is why 13500 South is an attractive option. UTA intends to hire a firm, Jones says, to study archaeological and environmental impacts affecting the potential station site. If it proves to be too difficult to meet federal and state archaeological and environmental standards, 13500 South will be abandoned.

"There's no question in my mind we are laboriously following all legal requirements," Jones said. "But keep in mind that we're not done."