UDOT still exploring rail expansion options within Utah, Intermountain West

Carter Williams, KSL.com

SALT LAKE CITY (KSL.com) — Amtrak only offers 1 way that crosses Utah correct now, but Utah proscription officials opportunity they are still willing successful expanding options that would boost location travel.

They’re besides willing successful seeing if it’s feasible to connection “high-level” statewide connections utilizing commuter rail.

UDOT is getting fresh to statesman a statewide rider obstruction feasibility study that will find if nan authorities should look into nan thought further, Ben Huot, lawman head of readying and finance for nan Utah Department of Transportation, told members of nan Utah Legislature’s Interim Transportation Committee connected Wednesday.

The authorities study will research caller destinations and routes, measure high-speed and shared freight obstruction options, and reappraisal nan costs and benefits of obstruction description . The process whitethorn create much corridor recognition programme opportunities, a programme led by nan Federal Railroad Administration.

It wouldn’t beryllium nan first clip Utah has reviewed nan program. UDOT joined Idaho and Nevada proscription officials successful an exertion to study a obstruction corridor that would tally from Boise to Salt Lake City and past down to Las Vegas, perchance restoring Amtrak’s aged “Pioneer” and “Desert Wind” work routes.

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It was not selected by nan Federal Railroad Administration past year, but Utah proscription officials said earlier this twelvemonth that they were unfastened to retrying nan study aft it was discovered that Idaho had revenge half of nan exertion to nan incorrect national program.

But while they did that, nan Federal Railroad Administration launched its ain study pinch Utah implications. Two of nan agency’s imaginable long-distance routes fundamentally overlap pinch what nan 3 states wanted to study.

One way connects Denver to Seattle via Salt Lake City and Boise, while different connects Denver to Los Angeles via Wyoming, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. Both could connection much commuter obstruction work to further cities crossed nan authorities on nan routes.

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As it stands, Amtrak’s California Zephyr makes stops successful Salt Lake City, Provo, Helper and Green River — usually successful nan mediate of nan nighttime — arsenic it connects San Francisco to Chicago.

Huot said nan national agencies offered immoderate feedback connected what could boost their chances of being selected for a study, including ridership projections, arsenic good arsenic different costs and different benefits.

“After we received that feedback, we did person immoderate discussions pinch Amtrak and did get immoderate very high-level, very preliminary … estimates for immoderate of nan information for those 2 routes,” he said.

It’s unclear if nan task will person backing a 2nd clip around.

Rio Grande Plan creates interest, pushback

In nan meantime, nan committee besides heard from representatives of nan Rio Grande Plan, a community-led inaugural to hide a information of nan railroad tracks connected Salt Lake City’s westbound side.

The task has gotten preliminary support from Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County leaders, but it faced immoderate pushback from nan committee connected Wednesday, mostly because of nan costs. A metropolis study estimated it could costs $3 cardinal to $5 billion, but immoderate ballpark estimates mentioned by nan Legislature put it person to $8 billion.

Rep. Karen Peterson, R-Clinton, said she appreciates nan effort but is concerned that it will beryllium “crazy expensive” and target a metropolis pinch transit options while different communities on nan Wasatch Front struggle to find immoderate transit access.

“It feels for illustration a batch successful 1 spot that doesn’t use nan full system,” she said.

Frederick Jenny, representing nan group, said nan group’s extremity is to person an charismatic economical effect study from nan authorities to research fundraising options, specified arsenic national grants. Others connected nan committee said they judge it’s a big-picture thought that’s astatine slightest worthy studying.

“Not each task for illustration this works,” said Rep. Brett Garner, R-West Valley City. “Nobody wants to spot a Big Dig; we want to spot thing for illustration has happened successful Denver. They’ve seen a broader vitalization of nan area astir their depot.”

The committee didn’t make immoderate charismatic motions tied to nan presentation, truthful its early remains to beryllium seen.