Latest news with #GavinGustafson
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Layton leaders OK development plan around FrontRunner station, hope for ‘vibrant area'
The areas around the Clearfield, Ogden and Roy FrontRunner stations in northern Utah may have more long-term development potential than in Layton due to availability of open land. In fact, the proposed Layton Station Area Plan — approved by the Layton City Council last month, but still subject to certification by the Utah Transit Authority — spells out some of the limitations. 'While minimal vacant land exists for larger-scale development, opportunities exist for smaller-scale new development that will benefit the station area and the goals of the Layton Station Area Plan,' reads the planning document. At any rate, Layton leaders — like officials in other locales with FrontRunner stations — are obliged by state law to craft a plan, and even if future development options are limited, officials see potential. 'We want this to be a vibrant area,' said Weston Applonie, who heads the Layton Community and Economic Development Department. The Layton FrontRunner station is located at 150 S. Main in the city's historic downtown area. In contrast to the Clearfield, Ogden and Roy stations, with 56, 30 and 80 acres of adjacent land proposed for redevelopment, respectively, and ambitious long-term development aspirations, much of the area around the Layton station is already occupied by 'stable development.' That, the plan says, includes residential neighborhoods and commercial and business areas. At the same time, UTA owns just four acres of property around the Layton station, which is used for parking. 'As for development, UTA is working with the city to potentially expand FrontRunner park and ride capacity,' said UTA spokesman Gavin Gustafson. UTA owns about 18 acres around the Roy FrontRunner Station and 17 acres around the Ogden FrontRunner station, which is factored in the long-term mixed-use development proposals in each locale. Broadly, station area plans are meant to serve as blueprints for long-term growth around FrontRunner stops that align with UTA hopes of promoting transit-oriented development at the locations. Central in transit-oriented development is higher-density housing, theoretically creating a pool of FrontRunner users and thereby bolstering use of the light-rail system as the population along the Wasatch Front surges and helping alleviate congestion on the state's road network. In Layton, even if there are land limitations, the station area plan — building on earlier planning documents for the area crafted by city leaders — notes medium-density and mixed-use redevelopment opportunities in some pockets. Indeed, east of the FrontRunner station across Main Street, a six-story 253-unit apartment building and two smaller commercial buildings are taking shape on land that used to be part of Cedarwood Mobile Home Park. City leaders' hopes, according to the plan, are to create a 'vibrant, urban center.' More specifically, the document — which will face scrutiny from both the Wasatch Front Regional Council, a planning body, and UTA officials — calls for 'a mixture of uses and amenities to attract both daytime and nighttime populations.' Even more specifically, development priorities in the coming five years include installation of a pedestrian bridge near the FrontRunner station connecting Kay's Creek Trail on the east side of Main Street to the west side of the rail line. The plan calls for continued support for the development of future phases of the development on the east side of Main Street, called Layton Station, and efforts to promote 'multi-story moderate- to high-density housing' in the zone. The Layton Station mixed-use project, not to be confused with the Layton Station Area Plan, eventually calls for removal of the portion of Cedarwood that remains so the land can be redeveloped, though Applonie said city leaders haven't yet received a plan proposal. The area around the FrontRunner station isn't meant to replace the bustling commercial area around Layton Hills Mall, said Applonie, but rather to be 'developed in its own vibrant way.'
Axios
2 days ago
- General
- Axios
Scoop: UTA to skip Utah Pride and all 2025 festivals during review
For the first time since 2022, the Utah Transit Authority will skip the Utah Pride Festival, following a pause on all festival and parade participation for the remainder of the year. Why it matters: Utah GOP lawmakers have previously expressed concerns over UTA's participation in the state's largest annual LGBTQ+ celebration. In 2023, text messages revealed some of them urged UTA to pull a rainbow-decorated bus that was set to appear in the parade. State of play: UTA spokesperson Gavin Gustafson told Axios that sitting out this year's events is necessary to "conduct a comprehensive review of our fare agreements, ensuring consistency and responsible stewardship of public funds." Gustafson said UTA board members and administrators made the decision in April and that it's centered on Ticket as Fare agreements, which allow tickets to approved events to serve as UTA passes. Zoom in: Axios obtained an April 2 email sent to senior leadership by executive director Jay Fox calling for the immediate cancellation of "all current agreements, plans, purchases, or discussions related to any UTA festival and parade participation this year." The email said the agency plans to provide a report in October to state lawmakers detailing the agreements and "their value." It also included talking points and guidance for responding to questions around the directive because it "may raise questions and concerns," and it told management to expect employee disappointment over the decision.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Why UTA is drastically shifting TRAX Red Line service for most of the summer
Officials are drastically changing one of Utah Transit Authority's light-rail service lines for the next few months while it carries out a maintenance project on the tracks near the University to Utah. A project to repair infrastructure on Utah Transit Authority's TRAX Red Line was slated to begin Saturday, leading to a major shift in service. Trains that typically travel east toward the University Medical Center Station on campus will instead be rerouted to travel through downtown Salt Lake City, following the Blue Line to Salt Lake Central Station. 'The Red Line is going to be shut down basically from the Courthouse Station all the way east along (400 South), through the S-curve and then all the way up to what is currently the end of the Red Line up to the university,' said UTA spokesman Gavin Gustafson. The project calls for the replacement of 'worn-out parts' of the Red Line, including track connections, guard rails, the overhead wires that power trains and the interlocking system that helps prevent train collisions, according to the agency. Infrastructure along the section where 400 South becomes 500 South near the university tends to wear down faster because of the curves and steep grade of the S-shaped curve, Gustafson explained. 'It does go through a pretty significant amount of wear and tear, so that's a big part of what we're doing there,' he said. The project is expected to continue through mid-August, which means the reroute will remain in place for months, aside from a brief pause surrounding Independence Day. Some limited Red Line TRAX service will briefly return July 3-5 for festivities planned by the university. It won't affect the Red Line's southern route. All services between Courthouse Station and Daybreak in South Jordan will remain the same. Riders seeking to reach the university are encouraged to take UTA's 1, 2 or 4 bus routes, which they can do by a bus stop located by the corner of 200 South and Main Street, less than a block from Gallivan Plaza Station. UTA officials are urging riders to plan ahead, advising that it could lead to delays of up to 45 minutes in travel time. Both the 1 and 2 routes, which are currently being detoured because of a separate road project along 100 South near the university, reach University Medical Center Station. Route 4 also travels along most of the red line route, taking riders to places like the Salt Lake City Public Library, Trolley Square and Rice-Eccles Stadium. UTA officials said they're adding additional service through Route 4R to accommodate expected rider demand from the TRAX closure, which will run between Gallivan Plaza and Rice-Eccles Stadium. The project is scheduled to wrap up on Aug. 17, ending in time for the start of the University of Utah's fall semester. The same goes for Salt Lake City's 100 South project.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Why UTA is drastically shifting TRAX Red Line service for most of the summer
Officials are drastically changing one of Utah Transit Authority's light-rail service lines for the next few months while it carries out a maintenance project on the tracks near the University to Utah. A project to repair infrastructure on Utah Transit Authority's TRAX Red Line was slated to begin Saturday, leading to a major shift in service. Trains that typically travel east toward the University Medical Center Station on campus will instead be rerouted to travel through downtown Salt Lake City, following the Blue Line to Salt Lake Central Station. 'The Red Line is going to be shut down basically from the Courthouse Station all the way east along (400 South), through the S-curve and then all the way up to what is currently the end of the Red Line up to the university,' said UTA spokesman Gavin Gustafson. The project calls for the replacement of 'worn-out parts' of the Red Line, including track connections, guard rails, the overhead wires that power trains and the interlocking system that helps prevent train collisions, according to the agency. Infrastructure along the section where 400 South becomes 500 South near the university tends to wear down faster because of the curves and steep grade of the S-shaped curve, Gustafson explained. 'It does go through a pretty significant amount of wear and tear, so that's a big part of what we're doing there,' he said. The project is expected to continue through mid-August, which means the reroute will remain in place for months, aside from a brief pause surrounding Independence Day. Some limited Red Line TRAX service will briefly return July 3-5 for festivities planned by the university. It won't affect the Red Line's southern route. All services between Courthouse Station and Daybreak in South Jordan will remain the same. Riders seeking to reach the university are encouraged to take UTA's 1, 2 or 4 bus routes, which they can do by a bus stop located by the corner of 200 South and Main Street, less than a block from Gallivan Plaza Station. UTA officials are urging riders to plan ahead, advising that it could lead to delays of up to 45 minutes in travel time. Both the 1 and 2 routes, which are currently being detoured because of a separate road project along 100 South near the university, reach University Medical Center Station. Route 4 also travels along most of the red line route, taking riders to places like the Salt Lake City Public Library, Trolley Square and Rice-Eccles Stadium. UTA officials said they're adding additional service through Route 4R to accommodate expected rider demand from the TRAX closure, which will run between Gallivan Plaza and Rice-Eccles Stadium. The project is scheduled to wrap up on Aug. 17, ending in time for the start of the University of Utah's fall semester. The same goes for Salt Lake City's 100 South project.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
UTA rail maintenance worker dies after being struck by vehicle
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A Utah Transit Authority rail maintenance worker has passed away after being struck by a vehicle while working in Murray late April. 'We are deeply saddened to share the loss of our colleague, Juan Madrid, a dedicated and beloved rail maintenance worker,' a statement from the Utah Transit Authority reads. 'Juan passed away from injuries after being struck by a motor vehicle while he was performing work in a rail crossing on April 24.' UTA said they are providing counseling and benefits for the Madrid family, as well as offering counseling services to employees. PREVIOUSLY: Hit-and-run suspect in custody after hitting two UTA workers in Murray 'The safety and well-being of UTA employees and their families is our highest priority. We are actively assisting the Murray Police Department as they conduct a thorough investigation into this incident. A second rail maintenance worker who was also seriously injured in the incident is thankfully at home recovering.' Murray Police confirmed a suspect turned themselves in after allegedly hitting the two Utah Transit Authority employees working near a FrontRunner railroad crossing on April 24. UTA spokesperson Gavin Gustafson told a group of four employees were doing maintenance work around 1:30 a.m. near 5900 South and 300 West in Murray. As they were finishing their work, a white SUV traveling eastbound struck two of the employees. Gustafson said one employee was left in serious condition and the other was rushed into surgery in critical condition. Murray Police said the suspect — identified as Brandon Palma, 29 — initially fled the scene on foot, but later turned himself in to police. He now faces felony charges of failure to remain at an accident involving a serious injury. In a statement provided to Gavin Gustafson, a spokesperson for UTA, reminded drivers to slow down in work zones and eliminate distractions that could pull attention away from the road. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. MJ Jewkes contributed to this report. UTA rail maintenance worker dies after being struck by vehicle Haeran Ryu wins first LPGA Black Desert Championship $95M settlement over Siri eavesdropping claims approved: How to make a claim Republicans face key hang-ups on Trump agenda bill as House heads into crucial week 17-year-old confirmed dead after being swept away, drowning in Weber River Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
