Latest news with #UtahTransitAuthority
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Take a tour inside downtown South Salt Lake's ‘first major development'
Makayla Wade points to the paintings and other artwork placed throughout the double-height lobby within the One Burton, one of Utah's newest apartment complexes. Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol prints, along with work from other artists from the middle of the 20th century, are plastered on the walls next to a conference room and remote work space on the top half of the lobby. A chic clock adorns the wall next to the stairs leading to those spaces, which is near an entrance that pays homage to the old Kutcher's Resort in upstate New York that rose to prominence during that era. 'It's very midcentury modern. That's kind of the inspiration for everything,' says Wade, the complex's community manager, as she leads a tour around the property. Dubbed downtown South Salt Lake's 'first major development' by project leaders and a 'significant milestone' by South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood, it's clear from the moment anyone steps in that art is a heavy focus inside the eight-story, 180-unit mixed-use development. There's art on every floor and a small art gallery space on the fourth floor featuring rotating art pieces on television screens to keep things fresh. Even its exterior oozes art, as a large mural was painted on one of its sides as part of South Salt Lake's annual Mural Fest earlier this year, and a few other murals from past festivals are located nearby. The complex also comes with the same types of amenities common in other newly constructed apartment complexes, such as a community hot tub, game room, fitness center, coworking spaces and pet washing area. There's also a dog park set aside for the residents' best friends. Its units are a mix of studio to two-bedroom options, each coming with a washer and dryer, walk-in closets and wider space than many units. There's also enough parking for every resident, along with space for bikes. Located on the corner of Main Street and Burton Avenue (2360 South), it's also located near a Utah Transit Authority S-Line station. Three retail spaces are still under construction. Wade said a hairstyling business is slated to open in one of them, while management is also close to finalizing a deal to bring in a restaurant. Rental costs range from $1,390 to $3,575 per month. While the first residents began moving in last month, project and South Salt Lake leaders gathered Wednesday to celebrate its completion, which they say marks a milestone for the city. The $50 million project started as the New York-based Abstract Development Group toured sites for potential development in Salt Lake County, sometime after forming in 2020. Developers fell in love with the corner of Burton Avenue and Main Street, which felt both 'underappreciated' and 'blossoming with potential,' said Jason Algaze, a principal at the firm. They particularly enjoyed the Mural Fest artwork and the creative reuse of industrial spaces nearby. Getting One Burton off the ground wasn't without its challenges, though. Development and construction required coordination with YesCo to move around an I-80 billboard in the area so that it wouldn't be intrusive to future residents, he said. That's on top of the other challenges all development projects have faced in recent years, such as rising costs. But the final product is essentially a love letter to the growing neighborhood. The Kutcher's Resort references are a nod to resorts in upstate New York, also providing an outdoorsy vibe for the mountains in the background, Algaze explained. The art plays into the city's growing scene, which also received another boost on Wednesday. Abstract Development presented the South Salt Lake Arts Council with a $2,000 donation before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. 'I personally think this is like the creative side of Salt Lake or definitely will be, so we wanted to make sure we did something nice,' he said. South Salt Lake leaders called One Burton a 'foundational' piece of downtown South Salt Lake's downtown plans when construction began in 2022. And views from the top will soon offer a unique vantage point of what's to come in the surrounding area. The growing city has received additional redevelopment interest since then. It's located within a block or two of a large field where the development company Blaser Ventures has placed signs advertising a massive new development that seeks to bring about 500 affordable units and additional retail space to the area within the next few years. South Salt Lake leaders say that's just the beginning, too, as they carry out their downtown vision that began about 15 years ago. Growth in this section has already contributed to the city's 12% population rise since then. 'This is the first of many projects that will transform our community,' Wood said.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
VIDEO: UTA releases footage of 4-vehicle crash involving bus on I-15
FARMINGTON, Utah () — Utah Transit Authority released footage of a on I-15 that occurred in May. It caused several injuries and blocked traffic. The crash happened on I-15 between Farmington and Centerville early in the morning of May 27. It closed the four left lanes, leaving only one lane open, and traffic was brought to a near standstill for several hours. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 4-car crash involving UTA bus stalls I-15 traffic near Farmington According to UTA spokesperson Gavin Gustafson, the crash was a 'chain reaction accident.' In the video, one car crashes into another, and that car is pushed into the lane the bus is in. The bus was seemingly unable to avoid hitting the car. Luckily, the bus driver was at the beginning of his shift, driving to the bus route, so there were no passengers on board, and the driver did not suffer injuries. The bus was damaged, but it was still in working condition, Gustafson said. 'We just want to know that she's safe' — Mother of missing West Jordan teen speaks out Creamy Smoked Beef Links with Pasta offers serious flavor Declutter your space and life with the help of Junk King America First Credit Union supports summer fun with splash summit deals and real savings Partly sunny and hot with a isolated strong storm or two possible across northern Utah Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- 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
03-06-2025
- 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
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Provo, Orem leaders hope new UTA service will fill ‘gaps' in fast-growing county
Utah County remains the state's fastest-growing county, which requires extensive planning, including ways to handle new transportation challenges. 'Growth is coming and we have got to get ahead of it,' said Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi. 'We can't sit and wait until it's a problem.' She sees public transit as a potential solution for moving more people around more efficiently than having everyone drive. Orem Mayor Dave Young's city has FrontRunner, bus rapid transit and traditional bus services. Still, both he and Kaufusi say there are still 'gaps' in connectivity — something that they hope will be fixed by Utah Transit Authority's newest Utah County service. The state agency extended its UTA on Demand service to Utah County for the first time last month, adding an 8.6-square-mile zone covering the west side of Orem and Provo, including destinations like Provo Airport and Provo City Hall. The microtransit service blends traditional bus operations with ridesharing, allowing customers to hail a van with other riders heading in a similar direction. Both mayors say it should help west-side residents connect with the transit options that are easier to find east of the FrontRunner line, while offering better connections to key places like the fast-growing airport. 'This on-demand service really is the final touch in making that happen,' Young said. 'This is designed to bring that final level together.' UTA first tested the concept in southwest Salt Lake County in 2019, reaching an area that experienced similar transit gaps. It became a permanent fixture two years later, before the agency added new service areas to Salt Lake City's west side and parts of Davis and Tooele counties. Ridership has grown as a result. The agency reported having 2,207 average weekday boardings in April, an 18% increase from last April and its highest monthly average since adding the service. UTA Director Jay Fox hopes the trend continues as it extends to a crucial part of Utah County. 'One of the reasons on-demand coming here is a pretty big deal is because it's been so successful everywhere else,' Fox said. 'You know right away that bringing it to an area, it's going to connect people to places they couldn't connect to before directly; it's going to be an incredible success. ... For both cities, it's going to just drive so much mobility.' It could also spark new transit service down the road. UTA used heat maps to carve out a traditional bus service route in southwest Salt Lake County that also debuted last month. The same could happen in Utah County. In the meantime, UTA on Demand will be available within the Orem/Provo zone from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day from Monday through Saturday. One-way rides are $2.50, the same cost as a bus.
