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11Ground was broken Tuesday for the Lehi stop for the FrontRunner South line, which will run through American Fork, Pleasant Grove, Vineyard, Orem and Provo. The latest news is that UTA plans to buy land from Utah Valley University west of Interstate-15, most likely for a combined train/bus hub.
Utah Valley commuters should rejoice. A recent Utah Foundation study found that the stretch of I-15 from University Parkway to American Fork is the most congested in the state. The same research suggested that, figuring in the time and money wasted, the average daily commuter stuck idling on I-15 between University Parkway and 1600 North in Orem loses $1,275 each year because of the jams there.
With the rebuild of I-15 looming, commuter trains may be a real lifeline. But there's much more to be done.
Tantalizing possibilities present themselves for new and better connections. For example, Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs have pleaded with UTA for bus service, to no avail so far. Or imagine express bus service through Orem to Provo Town Centre. Last week, Orem City Council heard an update for such a plan, a Bus Rapid Transit system right down the middle of University Parkway.
The idea is touted as a viable alternative to automobiles, and UTA and local and regional governments should continue to push for it.Transit passengers are also demanding better service. A recent editorial on transportation elicited plenty of suggestions from readers, including pleas for more routes and better connections. Express buses in Utah County are already crowded. More such routes would be popular, especially if they linked easily to other parts of the system.
Speaking of expansion, what about TRAX, the light rail system? In contrast to the swirl of news about FrontRunner and BRT for commutes, little has been said recently about expanding light rail to Utah Valley. That was once much discussed, but recently the silence has been deafening.
Light rail should not be neglected in the excitement over FrontRunner. Commuter rail and light rail serve different needs, and if done right can complement each other. Our public officials should keep the heat on for bringing TRAX to Utah Valley.
Just as important are details aimed at customer convenience, like wireless Internet in all modes of public transit and improved online schedule tools. High on UTA's list should be getting rid of the "fold up your stroller" rule. Many parents use strollers not only to transport little children but also to lug around loads of gear. And folding one up on the bus is a big hassle.
A little more tolerance would be nice.
These and other ideas could help build ridership. But there are two dangerous notions that could slow the momentum public transportation is building in Utah Valley -- raising fares and cutting routes. The UTA has done the first and has threatened to do the second, if the current economic slowdown cuts too deeply into its funding. Now, however, is precisely the wrong time to think about raising fares or cutting service. If anything, transit officials should do the opposite.
After many years when the car was king, high gas prices are helping public transportation stage a comeback. In many ways, UTA has worked successfully to build the transit system here. Transit and local government need to nurture this comeback, not kill it.
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