The latest agreement between two of the districts will keep one from needing to build new transportation infrastructure — at least for the next three years. 

Timpanogos School District announced last week a partnership with Aspen Peaks School District to lease for space at Aspen Peaks’ transportation facility in American Fork for three years. 

The facility, an existing Alpine School District bus depot, will provide Timpanogos School District with no less than 90 parking stalls and two-and-a-half maintenance shop bays, according to Timpanogos. The two districts will also share five support personnel. 

Timpanogos spokesman Tyle Vigue told the Daily Herald in an email Monday the deal alleviates any immediate concern about building another transportation facility in the district’s boundaries. 

“It is currently a three-year arrangement, so it would need to be renewed at a later time or Timpanogos School District would need to consider the possibility of building a new facility somewhere within the district’s boundaries,” Vigue said. 

Timpanogos Superintendent Joseph Jensen said during an Aug. 12 board meeting the agreement will be reviewed after two years and that ideally, the lease can be renewed long term. 

“That saves us significant capital costs up front, he said. 

The deal comes just two months after the Timpanogos School Board approved a resolution in June authorizing the district to seek bids for design, engineering and construction for a new transportation facility. 

Timpanogos Board President Jennifer Lyman said at last week’s board meeting that Timpanogos considered building its own transportation facility after Aspen Peaks initially agreed to a two-year lease. One property considered was the district-owned property on Anderson Boulevard in Lindon. That prompted a petition from nearby Anderson Farm neighborhood residents opposing the possible construction. 

However, Lyman said circumstances have since changed to make the Aspen Peaks partnership work. 

“(Leadership) has been able to come together and work together and see the way forward to make this a win-win for both districts,” Lyman said. 

Board member Sterling Hilton added, “I feel very good about this arrangement, and to this point, I hope it lasts for 20 years. I just don’t see any benefit to building our own if we don’t need to.” 

The Timpanogos board approved a funding model to cover the three-year lease with Aspen Peaks. For the first two years, lease costs will be covered by transferring ownership of Timpanogos’ allocated vehicle parts inventory to Aspen Peaks, the district said. Year three will be covered by transferring ownership of a portable administrative office trailer that Timpanogos will install at the site. 

“We are so grateful for our partners in Aspen Peaks who have been willing to accommodate our needs and have afforded us this opportunity to continue our collaborative working relationship,” said Jensen in a news release. “And we appreciate the support of the public as we worked through this process, while striving to maximize resources that keep our focus on our core mission of helping every student thrive.”