UDOT explains proposed FrontRunner expansion in Provo that may impact homes

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Transportation along with the Utah Transit Authority have teamed up to put more Frontrunner trains in service.

The idea is to be able to carry more people during the morning and afternoon commutes. UDOT has said its plan will allow it to run trains every 15 minutes during commute times. The current frequency is every 30 minutes.

 

But it needs double train tracks to do this. And that means it needs more room for tracks near 600 South and 500 West in Provo.

UDOT and UTA presented their plans to Provo officials at a work session beginning at 1:30 p.m. MDT on Sept. 9, and confirmed at that time that some buildings would need to go.

(Video begins at 35:43, relevant information runs from 00:35:43 to 01:42:01)

The Provo City Council got an earful from residents worried about their homes. So, the council turned to UDOT for clarification.

“I’m so curious about why I didn’t hear about this from you,” one resident told the council. “Why did we hear about this from citizens first? That really irked us.”

“It would irk me too,” said UDOT’s Brian Allen. “Honestly, that was an oversight in the way we delivered this.”

UDOT’s Brian Allen then went over the proposed plans, which include removing some condo and apartment buildings in the area.

It is currently unclear how much money impacted families in the area would get paid to pack up and leave.

Read more

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