Quote:
Originally Posted by ardecila
Ah. If UTA actually was successful at buying property from UP, that would be a first. Perhaps UTA's track comes with an easement for UP to run freight service along it? In every circumstance I've seen, UP merely grants an easement to the transit agency to build platforms and operate service, while they continue to hold ownership of the tracks.
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UTA did buy the right-of-way from UP that UTA's tracks uses. Here's a web link to a news story for the UTA Frontrunner - UP deal
from
http://www.utahtransit.us/deal.htm
As reported in Mass Transit Magazine, September 2003, the Utah Transit Authority made the deal of the century in 2002 when it purchased
175 miles of railroad right-of-way, most of it parallel to I-15 and along side Union Pacific freight mains, from Brigham City on the north (north of Ogden) to Payson on the south (south of Provo) for a mere
$185 million. Also included were two sites for intermodal hubs (Trax light rail, Frontrunner commuter rail, and bus) in SLC and Ogden, as well as some rail right-of-way through Salt Lake County for Trax expansion.
Another link with more UTA Frontrunner historic information:
http://www.utahrails.net/uta/frontrunner-north.php
April 2001:
The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is reported to have reached an agreement in principle with Union Pacific to buy access to the railroad's rights-of-way between Brigham City and Payson for $103 million. The agreement would permit UTA to put commuter trains on UP tracks between Ogden and Brigham City, where freight traffic is light, and build its own commuter line in UP's more-heavily-trafficked Salt Lake City-Ogden corridor. It would also open the way for further commuter rail development and extension of UTA's Trax light rail system. UTA says it can raise $59 million of the neeeded funds if the state puts up $44 million.
May 22, 2002:
Utah Transit Authority received approval from the federal Surface Transportation Authority to purchase the following properties from Union Pacific, for use as part of a commuter rail project:
Total of
62.77 miles
Salt Lake Subdivision: milepost 754.31 in Bountiful, to milepost 778.00 in Ogden (former D&RGW mainline)
Salt Lake Subdivision:
20 to 35-foot portion of right of way from milepost 782.48 in Salt Lake City, to milepost 818.05 in Ogden (adjacent to UP mainline)
Provo Industrial Lead: milepost P-775.23 at Point of the Mountain, to milepost P-762.00 at Hardy (UP mainline)
Provo Subdivison:
20 to 35-foot portion of right of way from milepost 705.71 at Lakota Junction, to milepost 729.29 near Riverton, and from milepost 729.50 near Riverton to milepost 745.50 in Salt Lake City (adjacent to former D&RGW mainline)
Sharp Subdivision: milepost P-752.41 in Provo, to milepost P-757.25 at Lakota Junction (UP mainline)
Sharp Subdivision:
20 to 35-foot portion of right of way from milepost 745.82 in Spanish Fork, to milepost P-749.99 in Provo, and from milepost P-750.81 in Provo to milepost P-752.41 in Provo (adjacent to UP mainline)
Tintic Industrial Lead: from milepost 0.00 in Springville, to milepost 13.06 in Payson (former D&RGW Tintic Branch)
Sugar House Spur: from milepost 0.00 at Roper, to milepost 2.74 in Sugar House (former D&RGW Sugarhoue Branch)
Bingham Industrial Lead: from milepost 6.60 at Bagley, to milepost 11.81 (former D&RGW Bingham Branch)
Bingham Industrial Lead:
20 to 35-foot portion of right of way from milepost 0.00 to milepost 6.60 (former D&RGW Bingham Branch)
Consummation of sale to occur on or about May 30, 2002.
UTA is acquiring tracks for future passenger operations, and does not intend to conduct freight operations. (STB Finance Docket 34170)
September 17, 2003:
UTA and Union Pacific signed the final contracts for UTA to purchase UP's former Salt Lake City diesel shop, located at 900 North and 500 West. The building was completed in August 1955 and was closed by UP in June 1998 (more information).