Someday, they could deliver shoppers to buy such products.

The two cities and the Utah Transit Authority recently put up $150,000 to study transit options for the defunct railroad line. The research could result in a light-rail line, a trolley car system or increased bus service. Or nothing - if the results show transit isn't needed.

But officials don't expect that, with the Sugar House business district booming and about to undergo further redevelopment.

"The need is there now," said UTA spokesman Justin Jones. Current bus ridership figures were not available; Jones said the study will provide hard numbers.

It will also assess what residents want.

"What we want to do is go to the public and find out what's best for them," Jones said.

UTA will seek contractors for the study in January. It could take another year before the report is finished. If there is a preferred transit alternative, it would take another two to three years to do the environmental work.

Then there's the matter of finding money. It's unclear how much the transit would cost.

"This is something that is really the beginning, and it may not end and become something until 2020 or 2025," Jones cautioned.

Salt Lake City Councilman Soren Simonsen wants to see a transit system link light rail in the west with bus service on 1300 East. He agrees light rail may not be the preferred method.

"We don't need a regional system for a two-mile corridor. We're emphasizing this is a transit corridor study. It could be bus, trolley, streetcar, rail, rubber tire."

Light rail is seen as problematic in South Salt Lake because the line would run through the middle of a residential neighborhood.

A streetcar system may be more attractive because it would run more slowly - 30-40 mph compared to TRAX's 50-60 mph. Portland, Ore., has a streetcar system for its neighborhoods (it supplements that city's light-rail system) that started in 2001.

Another option is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which UTA calls "Light Rail on Rubber Tires." As compared to regular bus service, BRT is faster because it runs in a dedicated lane on the street, according to the UTA Web site. UTA also is looking into BRT for south Davis County, an area between Orem and Provo and in West Valley City on 3500 South.

UTA purchased the two-to-three-mile railroad line along 2200 South from Union Pacific in 2002 at the same time it purchased UP land for commuter rail. Jones said UP hadn't used the line for about a decade. It runs behind the Granite Furniture block and terminates at Fairmont Park.

Because owners of the Granite Block have plans for redevelopment that could increase traffic to Sugar House, Salt Lake City wanted the study to be funded as soon as possible. Capital officials also hope the transit study will affect development, getting developers to adopt a transit-oriented-development design.

No matter the preferred transit alternative, the route will include a trail, Jones said.

hmay@sltrib.com