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Vineyard celebrates new FrontRunner station and buildout of city

By Genelle Pugmire - | Aug 13, 2022
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Gov. Spencer Cox and Vineyard Mayor Julie Fullmer visit during the Vineyard FrontRunner ribbon cutting on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022.
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The new Vineyard FrontRunner station was unveiled Friday, Aug. 12, 2022.
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Historical panels are visible on the Vineyard FrontRunner platform Friday, Aug. 12, 2022.
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This rendering shows the planned 800-acre Vineyard Station development, which began buildout in September 2022.
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City planner Jeff Speck speaks during the Vineyard FrontRunner ribbon cutting on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022.
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Gov. Spencer Cox speaks during the Vineyard FrontRunner ribbon cutting on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022.

The history of Vineyard’s past meets the present and looks out on the future as the new Vineyard FrontRunner Station opened for business Friday.

The event marked the beginning of not only a centralized transit-oriented intermodal hub in the city, but also the build out of the city itself.

Speaking at the station’s ribbon-cutting event, Gov. Spencer Cox noted that, “We should be builders; there are too many deconstructing. We use to borrow from the now for the future and now we are borrowing from the future for now. This (Vineyard project) is borrowing from the now for the future.”

Cox said the state can’t keep adding lanes to Interstate 15 and that’s why projects like the Vineyard FrontRunner are so important.

Mayor Julie Fullmer said Vineyard is the classic story of the underdog. She calls those helping move the city forward the “unreasonables, the innovators that shape the world.”

When it comes to the past and shaping the future world, Vineyard’s Heritage Commission located images for the FrontRunner platform canopies depicting scenes from Vineyard’s past. The panels greet train customers on the platform.

Having FrontRunner service now is the central focus of a new part of Vineyard and the start of a future buildout with hundreds of planned varieties of living places, businesses, retailers, restaurants and walkable connector streets, which were also announced at the Friday event.

The Vineyard FrontRunner Station, the newest station on UTA’s commuter rail line, is located in downtown Vineyard, close to the Vineyard Connector Overpass. The Vineyard FrontRunner Station is the 16th station on FrontRunner’s 83-mile alignment between Ogden and Provo, the first new station since UTA’s southern expansion began operating in 2012.

It will service residents, students and commuters traveling the FrontRunner route between Provo and Ogden. The Utah Legislature approved $5.6 million toward the new station. A mixed-use, transit-oriented, walkable community is being planned for development around the new station.

Vineyard Station

A new sustainable community was also announced called Vineyard Station, a partnership between The Flagship Companies and Woodbury Corp.

This is Vineyard City’s much planned for and talked about first mixed-use, transit-oriented, walkable community that will be created around the new FrontRunner station.

“We are excited to provide FrontRunner service to Vineyard City’s growing community,” said UTA Trustee Jeff Acerson. “The new station will help increase mobility, connection and economic opportunity for anyone who lives here or visits this beautiful area.”

Located on the eastern shore of Utah Lake, Vineyard Station encompasses an area of over 800 acres of master-planned new development focusing on sustainability and walkability. It will offer places to live, work, shop, dine, worship and more, with a promenade running through the center of it leading to Utah Lake.

Separate plans are also afoot to transform Utah Lake with cleanup, a boardwalk and resort type feel.

“There is nothing else like this being developed in Utah right now,” said Nate Hutchinson and Jeff Woodbury of Vineyard Station, in a joint statement. “Working closely with Vineyard City, Utah County, UTA, UDOT, UVU and the Utah Lake Commission, this development will highlight the natural amenities of the city — such as the lake and mountain views — and also encourage a transit-oriented, walkable lifestyle made possible by UTA’s Vineyard FrontRunner Station and the vision of Jeff Speck.”

Speck is a highly noted city planner from Boston who plans walkable transit-oriented cities throughout the world. He has been involved with the Vineyard Station project for more than three years.

“I’ve worked on a lot of projects over the past 30 years. Some have gone through dissension and disarray. I am not finding this here. I can’t wait to come back and see you on the town square,” Speck told those attending the ceremony.

“As we continue to design and develop one of the largest regional developments in the state, centralized in fast-growing Utah County, our vision to connect people regionally and worldwide to jobs, higher education, home and recreation is taking shape at Vineyard Station,” Fullmer said. “Designing this area in partnership with walkability expert Jeff Speck was extraordinary and elevated our goals and concepts into the vision and plan we have today.”

Vineyard will be accessible from I-15 via 1600 North, 800 North and Center Street exits, and from the Vineyard FrontRunner Station.

Featuring 12 acres of open green space running through the center of the development, the promenade will begin at the Vineyard FrontRunner Station and lead to the shores of Utah Lake at Vineyard Beach Park, which is currently undergoing improvements by the city and county.

“Our state and local entities recognize the importance of this development and continue to show support that will serve the region and state with longevity, centered on a robust, easy-access transportation network with world-class transit and regional trail connections throughout this development,” Fullmer added. “Additionally, planning for a transit tie-in to both an international and regional airport enhances this mixed-use, multimodal development into a port for industry, travel and quality of life.”

In his closing remarks, Cox said, “Vineyard has gone from 0 to 60 in two and a half years. I love what is coming to this city.”

Work on Vineyard Station will commence in the fall of 2022. For more information and updates, visit vineyardstation.com.