“In a city with large city blocks such as ours, it makes sense to have two,” D.J. Baxter, adviser to Mayor Rocky Anderson, told Salt Lake City Planning commissioners on Wednesday as they debated the best way to connect the city's new Intermodal Hub with the existing light-rail system.

Commissioners followed city officials recommendation and approved the two-stop scenario that will go before the City Council next year.

Baxter and other city workers argued in favor of new stops at 525 West and 200 South and 125 South and 400 West, saying that two stops is in keeping with the city's goal to have a TRAX stop every two blocks. Baxter said the additional stop will add 30 seconds to travel time between the Delta Center stop and the Intermodal Hub.

City officials see a growing need for more transportation as the area is salted for more residential growth.

“Imagine, if you will, a doctor living in Salt Lake City's 'Lo-Do' [lower downtown] section and traveling to the U[niversity of Utah's] med center to work,” said city planner Doug Dansie.

But while city officials may prefer two stops, Utah Transit Authority officials and representatives of the Boyer Co., developers of the Gateway Mall, prefer a single stop at 475 W. 200 South.

A station on 400 West would cause congestion near the mall's already busy Summer parking entrance, Boyer contends. The company hopes to see a one-station scenario allowing a walkway through the mall without blocking automobile traffic. Even better, they say, would be an additional left-hand turn lane off of 400 West into the mall.

“Nearly 60 percent of our traffic coming from the south enters off 400 West,” developer Jake Boyer told the commissioners.

UTA, which would have to shoulder most of the construction costs, also prefers the one-station scenario.

“Our analysis shows the 200 South location offers the lowest amount of delay,” said UTA's Ralph Jackson. The single station also would preserve a yet-to-be developed 500 West corridor.

The cost to construct a second station is estimated to be between $500,000 to $700,000. Money at least one planning commissioner says could be used in other areas throughout the city.

“Who desperately needs this second stop?” asked Commissioner Babs Delay, noting that no one outside of city officials spoke in favor of two stops at Tuesday's public comment session.

lorib@sltrib.com