The city has pushed the Utah Transit Authority hard to build two stations. UTA wants to build just one. The Planning Commission recommended two stations last week. We think that was the right call.
We agree with the city's contention that UTA should provide one station every other block in this neighborhood, as it does along downtown's Main Street corridor. The chief argument for this is that the Gateway area is planned as the city's focal point for high-density mixed use and residential development.
If this plan comes to fruition, there will be thousands of Salt Lakers living in this area who would use the train. Two stations would encourage the kind of transit-oriented development that is the city's future.
We should disclose up front that we have more than a passing interest in this. Under the two-station option, one station would be built at 125 S. 400 West near the entrance to The Tribune's new headquarters at 90 S. 400 West in The Gateway. Of the two options, this would provide the station most convenient for Tribune employees.
The stations would be located on the extension of the existing TRAX. Under the two-station option, there would, in addition to the 400 West station, be one at 525 W. 200 South. The one-station option would be built at 475 W. 200 South.
Under both options, the goal is to extend the existing line from its current terminus on South Temple (north of the Delta Center) to the Intermodal Hub, where the new terminus would be located at 325 S. 600 West. The train would travel on 400 West from South Temple to 200 South, then west on 200 South to 600 West, then south on 600 West to 400 South. The Intermodal Hub (a name only a nerd could love) will be the crossroads for the new commuter rail line now under construction, TRAX, Amtrak and Greyhound Bus.
That's one reason why transit-oriented development in the Gateway neighborhood holds such promise.
Under the two-station option, UTA would pay for one station and the city would have to pay for the other, which could cost between $500,000 and $1 million. The city also must decide which to build first. Based on existing development, the 400 West station should be first in line.
