OREM — FrontRunner commuter rail is coming to Utah County as soon as 2013, and in Orem, work has already begun on a train station and intermodal transportation hub just west of Utah Valley University’s campus.

Gerry Carpenter, a Utah Transit Authority spokesman, said crews began working on footings for track lines to the future Orem station six weeks ago. The site that will provide connections from FrontRunner trains to the future Provo-Orem bus rapid transit system and regular UTA buses is located between 1000 South and 800 South on the west side of Interstate 15, east of Geneva Road.

While some cities along the future FrontRunner South line will have only covered shelters above the track platforms, Orem has received $1 million in federal funding to construct an actual station building, said Paul Goodrich, Orem’s transportation engineer. It may not cover the cost of the entire facility, but UTA has told the city the agency would like to have some security and maintenance offices at the Orem station, and may be willing to partner in the design and construction costs.

Goodrich said the Orem station would be similar to the Ogden station in size and layout with a sandwich shop, seating, rest rooms and a drinking fountain.

“We haven’t actually designed the building yet,” he said, adding that it may be six months to a year before the city finalizes the station’s design.

At the Orem City Council’s June 23 work session, Goodrich presented the council with an opportunity to add design enhancements to the Orem station above and beyond the basic station provided by UTA.

The so-called betterments, such as architectural and materials upgrades, are paid for by the city but add a “branding” of historical reference and character that help advertise the city and its offerings to riders, he said.

Goodrich and city staff will present some station design options such as a unique look for the canopies, columns, lighting and other features such as historical photos or local art, to the council at an upcoming meeting for the council’s consideration.

“The City Council wanted some kind of historic feeling, such as architecture already in Orem,” like the roof lines of historic schools, the old city hall and other local icons, he said.

Councilwoman Margaret Black said the council was shown examples of what other cities have done on the FrontRunner North line between Salt Lake City and Ogden.

Farmington, one of the more expensive examples at between $200,000 and $300,000, partnered with Lagoon amusement park to add a custom canopy that mimics the shape of a roller coaster and other features, Carpenter said. Other cities have added minimal decorative features for around $100,000.

“The idea was to do some betterment, something nice but not too expensive,” Black said.

One city staff suggestion is to put brick on the station’s posts and add distinct green light fixtures similar to Orem’s newer street lights. Theme ideas include the city’s agricultural heritage and the fact that Orem was named after a railroad man, Walter C. Orem.

“I, myself, would like a modest betterment, that gives an indication of our city’s uniqueness,” she said.

Despite UTA figures in May showing that FrontRunner North trains are averaging 30 percent lower ridership than officials had projected when the line opened a year ago, according to the Associated Press, Black believes Utah County should move forward with its FrontRunner South project.

“I think it’s very important to continue. It’s the wave of the future as our freeway becomes more congested,” she said, particularly with the Utah County I-15 widening project just a few years out.

FrontRunner South will also be key for Utah Valley University students who live in the Salt Lake Valley or points north of Orem to commute to school without having to use the freeway, Black said.

“It will be wonderful to have the connectivity to where someone gets on the train in Salt Lake, and, as we develop the Provo-Orem Bus Rapid Transit from our FrontRunner station, go to Orem, stop at the mall, and go down to Provo,” she said.

Overall, the $850 million FrontRunner South line, running 45 miles from Salt Lake City to Provo, is currently ahead of its initial 2015 completion date schedule, Carpenter said. Since approximately half the FrontRunner South line is in Utah County, county taxpayers will be footing half the total bill, or about $420 million.

In November of 2006, Utah County voters approved a sales tax increase to fund accelerated work on FrontRunner South and other transportation projects in Utah Valley.

Along with Orem, FrontRunner South stations also are planned for Lehi, American Fork, Vineyard and Provo. UTA estimates that ridership on the south line will be 7,900 passengers on average weekdays and increase up to 13,500 by 2030, Carpenter said.

“With I-15 construction, it may be above projections,” he said.

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