Future of FrontRunner W. Steve Meyer, Interim Executive Director
October 2018 Transportation Interim Committee Part of the Solution
2 From the Beginning
. Inter-Regional Corridor Alternatives Analysis – 2002 . Union Pacific ROW purchase – 2002 . Regional Transportation Plans – 2002, 2004, 2007 . Referendum passes – 2006 . North to Ogden opens – 2008 . South to Provo opens – 2012
3 Current Success
. More than 31 million riders transported . Over 10 million total miles traveled . Special events (athletic events, LDS conference, FanX, airshow, concerts, festivals)
4 FrontRunner Effect
. Connects the region . Access to opportunity . Tourism . Entertainment/recreation . Land use development . Housing . Employment . Healthcare facilities
5 Example of FrontRunner Effect: South Jordan Station
. $150M in private investment . 3,080 square feet of office space . 190 room full service hotel . 2,000 employees at the station when third building is complete . Private residential construction nearby . Redevelopment of private land around the station
6 Current Issues with FrontRunner
Single track system . Cascading delays
Federal signal safety mandates . Slowing the system down
Crowded peak-time trains
7 Future of FrontRunner Study
Key: PTC=Positive Train Control EMU=Electric Multiple Unit FR=FrontRunner
8 Ridership Factors: A Closer Look
Largest ridership increase with increased frequency . Requires more double track . Requires additional trains
Travel time reductions . Requires more double track . Fully double tracked, like TRAX, for best results
Needs to be reliable . Reduce train meets
9 Congestion Benefits
~2 Congested Freeway Lanes Person capacity . Up to 4 lanes of I-15
Air quality – 2 ways . Rider emissions saved ~1 Freeway Lane . Electrified train
Cluster development . Lifestyle, housing, employment location options
10 Next Steps
Partner participation – Vineyard Station
More study – air quality and ridership
Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) . Low/medium/high investment scenarios
Develop short and long term investment packages . Core capacity (phase 1) – longer trains, improved reliability . Core capacity (phase 2) – electrified in x years
11 Phase 1: Core Capacity Improvements
Invest now for reliability . Strategic double-track
Increase capacity . Longer trains . More parking
Corridor preservation . Widen corridor . Some difficult spots . Work with UDOT and Union Pacific
12 Phase 2 or 3
13 Additional Resources
. Ten Years of FrontRunner: http://rideuta.com/news/2018/04/Ten- Years-of-FrontRunner
. Future of FrontRunner Final Report: http://www.rideuta.com/- /media/Files/About-UTA/Reports/Future-of- FrontRunner/20180928_Future_of_FrontRunner_ExecSumm.ashx?la =en
. Wasatch Front Central Corridor Study: http://wfccstudy.org/
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