Provo MSA Development Thread

[SLC Projects]

I can't wait for the day when Provo and Orem gets a light rail.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by poodledoodledude

hhhmmm....i don't live in this area, and never really use this road much..but seems to me, that the widening of the road didn't do much.

don't mean to be pessimistic, but....think about it...they only widened it along a small stretch. then, it goes to 2 lanes again. but, the way they widened the road, a whole city block in some parts are used for grass, rocks, and landscaping.

in other words: they took out houses and planted trees and grass. nice look, but was it REALLY necessary? that road was busy, but two lanes seemed to be fine. it wasn't THAT busy. univ pkwy is A LOT busier than 800 north in orem.

i'd like to see the traffic studies on it. i don't know...seems like a waste of money to me. i think they should have done it ALL THE WAY to the canyon! instead, it tapers down to the canyon and no one knows the wiser. the trees in the middle of the road are nice, but i don't see the NEED for it. it was a busy road, but did it warrant 63 million dollars to plant trees and grass?

yes, 63 MILLION DOLLARS!!

i don't know...i'd rather see the money spent on more important projects at the time: like widening university parkway from provo to orem state street! talk about a BOTTLENECK!! going from provo to orem up univ. pkwy and down again is a JOKE!! ....now there's a start!

poodledoodledude

Poodledude, what are you thinking, LOL, "and I mean this ribbing in totally good naturedness." From Provo Canyon/Univ. Ave., all the way west to the other side of State Street and 400 West is hardly a small patch. That's a very big project to be sure.

There are any one of a dozen good reasons for this to have been widened and left turning lanes added. Just one of those reasons is that 800 North serves as the most widely used alternative approach to BYU. If you think that the Parkway is crowded now, imagine what it would be like without the 800 North access. But yes, the Univ. Parkway needs to be widened, with an attractive BRT type arrangement added as soon as possible.

[delts145]

Developers must wait for Eagle Mountain traffic study

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705257178,00.html

...Developers of the Scenic Mountain Master Development Plan are proposing a mixture of residential uses with a gross density of nearly 10 homes per acre...

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[urbanboy]

This is great news. Sounds like they're trying to be more responsible.

[delts145]

Highland's new library/city building finished and open for business

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705259879,00.html


highlandcity.org

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[RFPCME]

Delts:

Nice picture of the new Highland City Library. I understand the library contains one of the world's largest collections of "Where's Waldo" books...sorry, couldn't resist.

[delts145]

LOL, Ya know, that's probably true. I think Highland probably has the largest collection of kids per capita under the age of ten, so you're probably right.

Anyway, for those who might be interested in the building itself. The beige you see in the pic is not stucco. It's actually a very fine, cut stone.

[SLC Projects]

Does anybody have an update on the Hotel Project in P.G? You know the 9-story building. Last I heard ground was broken and the building was downsize. Any news?

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Does anybody have an update on the Hotel Project in P.G? You know the 9-story building. Last I heard ground was broken and the building was downsize. Any news?

I drive by it almost every day.. Still alot of site prep, but looks like it should start soon.

[delts145]

I notice every time I drive by that area, it seems something is being built. Whether it's along State Street, or the Parkway that leads to I-15 or along the freeway itself, there's allot going on. I can only imagine how built up that area will be in another ten years.

[delts145]

Payson's scenic national byway, Nebo Loop.

utahmotorcycleriders.com




utahvalley.org

Downtown Payson continues it's makeover

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705260406,00.html

Historic Main, Payson

Govenors office of economic development

... the drug store that will replace them is expected to use a historic theme in its architecture. The site is across the street from Payson's collection of historic retail stores on Main.

The historic theme is also expected to continue with an old Gothic church and classroom building next to it that new owners Nelson and Reed Finch plan to convert to a restaurant. The church was built in 1882 as the centerpiece of a Presbyterian mission and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The buildings are also on Main across from Memorial Park.

Farther up the street, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has purchased the long-shuttered junior high property where it plans a church, also fitting the historic theme, Nelson said.

The theme is part of the city's design guidelines...

"I consider downtown a jewel to be developed," Nelson said.

being restored and converted to a restaurant

Payson Historical files

[i-215]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

I can't wait for the day when Provo and Orem gets a light rail.

I'm afraid I'll be gone by the time I see rail. But even if it was here, I doubt I'd use if since it costs $12 round trip. I'd rather pay the extra $5 to have my car in Salt Lake while I'm there.

Maybe if I went to downtown for something, then Frontrunner would help so I didn't have to park.

[Wasatch_One]

I cant wait til they have FrontRunner up and running and the TRAX Airport line... that will be convenient for those living down here and flying often...

Of course, Provo's airport is going to start getting regional commercial service soon now that they have the new control tower and getting radar, so on second thought, who knows...

[i-215]

Commercial flights will rock. Can you imagine the day Provo has its own terminal?

[SLC Projects]

New type of overpass coming to Utah County.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=4722276






"A new type of overpass that has never been built in the United States will soon be under construction in Utah County."

[wrendog]

That's my freeway entrance. Very interesting.

[Wasatch_One]

Originally Posted by i-215

Commercial flights will rock. Can you imagine the day Provo has its own terminal?

I really don't think that that day is too far off... well, with regional Skywest type Embraer or Bombardier jets.

[UV4EVER]

Wouldn't it work better if they took out the stoplights all together by simply raising one of the roads in the intersections that cross? Does that make sense to anyone else?

[delts145]

Lehi - Road to be new east-west link in Utah County


The Salt Lake Tribune

The Utah Department of Transportation has chosen a consortium led by Kiewit Construction and W.W. Clyde Construction to build a new east-west alternative to Main Street in Lehi. The $380 million road, called Pioneer Crossing, will stretch from Redwood Road in Saratoga Springs through Lehi at about 1000 South to Interstate 15 in American Fork. It will link to the freeway with a first-in-Utah "diverging diamond interchange," a European-style interchange that speeds traffic through with only two traffic signal phases instead of the three or four at other interchanges. "Pioneer Crossing is intended to address a real transportation need in northern Utah County for additional east-west alternatives," project manager Bryan Adams said. The companies will design and build the project, and major construction will likely begin in January. The road is expected to be completed from Redwood Road to Lehi next November, with the rest finished by fall 2010. - Brandon Loomis


Orem - University Mall opens 14-screen theater



Deseret News

OREM — The new Cinemark University Mall theater will celebrate its grand opening this weekend after months of construction.
The 14-screen theater officially opened Thursday and is located at 1010 S. 800 East. Each theater is equipped with stadium seating and digital screens and sound.

Local radio stations will be on hand all weekend and there will be several grand opening specials while supplies last.

Cinemark got its start in the greater Salt Lake area more than 24 years ago and this will be its fourth theater in Utah County and the 13th statewide.


Cities eager to get rolling on express bus line - Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain hope the route eases traffic woes

Salt Lake Tribune

Starting in spring, Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs residents will be able to commute to downtown Salt Lake City via an express bus.
Voters Tuesday overwhelming approved a quarter-cent sales-tax increase to get a route with a stop in each city.
With roughly half of Eagle Mountain residents commuting about 40 miles north to the Salt Lake City area, few folks questioned the bus-route proposal, said Mayor Heather Jackson.
"Everybody, since the second we announced it, [have] been very supportive and positive about it," she said.
Officials in both cities had said they hope the express-bus route alleviates traffic congestion caused by construction within the rapidly growing northern Utah County community.
"I hope it will help our local commuters . . . get to work every day," said Saratoga Springs City Manager Ken Leetham. He also said the route is the beginning of other UTA partnerships in the future as the city grows.
Each city will have a park-and-ride lot and express-bus routes - two in the morning to downtown Salt Lake City and two returning in the evening.
Bus fare will be $5 each way, according to the UTA Web site.
As for Eagle Mountain, Jackson said roughly the other half of the city's residents now want an express-bus route to the Provo-Orem area. She said she plans to set up a meeting with UTA officials about the idea.

Voters approved a quarter-cent sales-tax increase to get an express-bus route in Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs:
Eagle Mountain
For: 77%
Against: 23%
Saratoga Springs
For: 67%
Against: 33%
What's next
Service with stops in both cities to begin April 2009.

Source: Utah County Clerk-Auditor Bryan Thompson

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[Neuroguy]

I'm actually intrigued by this design and think it could be quite successful. I agree that UDOT seems to be doing wonders with the whole "thinking outside the box" approach to solving Utah's transit issues. One observation though, according to their rendering the UTA buses needing to go east bound (i.e., north bound 811 or other expresses) will either have to find a new route or there will have to be a intersection (perhaps bus only-that would be nice) to allow for the buses to turn left out of the park-n-ride lot.