Just as TRAX was years in the concept and construction stages, anticipated commercial development along the line probably faces a similar wait.
For now, most of the undeveloped UTA-owned property along or near the line sits vacant.
The most imminent development is at the old smelter site in Murray, where the 5300 South TRAX station was nudged northward to put it closer to offices and professional buildings planned as part of Intermountain Health Care's future hospital campus. "That campus has a 40-year buildout, so I don't know we'll see the true impact of the development there for a number of years. It'll be a couple of years before they even start building the hospital," said D'Arcy Dixon Pignanelli, Murray chief of staff.
Murray also plans to use TRAX traffic as an enhancement to developments in the historic downtown area along Main Street between Vine and 4800 South.
Sandy and Midvale officials have been working on ideas for a development at 8400 South and State, where nearly 30 UTA-owned acres straddle the cities' common border. The cities would share taxes generated by the development.
Under the development concepts, the former Sutherland Lumber site would become a village, mixing office, recreation, retail and residential elements. People living there would easily be able to walk to offices, parks or theaters and businesses.
But the next step belongs to UTA.
"At the moment, UTA has no plans for the property," Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan said. "We're trying to get things together in case UTA wants to develop the property. UTA will decide if they want to sell the property or find a developer."
"Frankly, it's on the back burner, from UTA's perspective," said Dennis McElroy, UTA government relations specialist. "We don't have the funds to develop the property or do an in-depth analysis of what we should do. It's on our list, but we haven't gotten there yet."
UTA's higher priorities include collecting funds from a voter-approved tax increase and determining how to improve transit service, he said.
But transit-oriented development is something UTA wants to see happen, McElroy said.
"It's just a matter of time and a matter of who is going to do it. Is UTA going to sell the land and let someone else develop it or do some sort of joint development? These need to be looked at and answered. It's a big project and will take a lot of money to make it work, and frankly we haven't had the time or money to even look at it."
The Fun Dome in Murray runs its own shuttles between the entertainment complex and the Murray Central TRAX station at 5300 South. Better shuttle connections could bring more TRAX riders to Fashion Place Mall, which is about one mile east of the Fashion Place West TRAX station at 6400 South. Pignanelli said the mall's new owners plan to discuss expansion plans with City Hall in December, but she did not know whether transit enhancements will be part of the plan.
Adequate parking has been the focus of future development at the Fashion Place West station, which has already seen one parking-lot expansion after the initial small "kiss-n-ride" lot had TRAX riders parking their cars on residential streets surrounding the station. "We got so many complaints," Pignanelli said. Parking lots are likely to absorb all of the available land there.
Sandy's 9000 South station is also in a residential area. Additional parking there would relieve parking congestion along neighborhood streets, Dolan said.
The 10000 South station has 25 UTA-owned acres, 10 to 15 acres owned by others and a cemetery with perhaps two dozen surplus acres, all of which could be put into development, Dolan said. But it also is only in the most basic concept stage, with a mixed-use project of perhaps 60 acres being attractive, he said.
Christine Richman, Midvale's community and economic development director, said cities along the TRAX line would like to see UTA get moving on development.
"UTA owns quite a bit of commercial frontage that in the past was important to the tax base," she said. "Now they're off the property tax rolls, and there is no sales tax coming in. There is a certain level of frustration."
For example, Sutherland Lumber was the No. 5 sales tax producer for Midvale.
At 7200 South, UTA owns frontage and is required by a conditional-use permit to bring a transit-related retail development proposal to Midvale officials by March. City officials hope construction could begin next spring.
The 8400 South project will take longer and "we'd rather do it right than rush it," she said. Frontage at 7800 S. State is currently tabbed for temporary parking during the 2002 Olympics.
"I believe UTA is committed to getting development on those frontages, but they need to understand it needs to be a higher priority, from our viewpoint," Richman said.
Dolan echoed the sentiment that cities don't want long delays with properties off the tax rolls but added that TRAX represents enormous development options.
"To have light-rail stations is a distinct advantage for a community, and we want to make the most advantage of having them," he said. "It's a great opportunity for us to have property at the station because it allows us to plan exactly what we want to have there."
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