Summary
UTA Frontrunner from 2nd Street in Ogden to Forest Street in Brigham City will be extending over 20 miles of mainline track. Over 220 parcels will possibly be impacted by right of way acquisitions and easements. Each will require research. While working with UTA, Meridian Engineering has provided multiple services to expedite this effort such as survey control network expansion, supplemental topographic surveys, defining the existing right of way, GIS web mapping, and creating plans and documents for right of way acquisition to preserve the land for the future extension. Meridian is working with UTA to design right of way, provide maps, and conveyance documents for the corridor preservation acquisitions.
Special Project Consideration: As a benefit to the project scope, Meridian developed a right of way status tracking web map (as shown) which also won an IRWA national award this year. This map displays the status of each parcel, ownership information, provides a direct link to access the current right of way plan sheets and provides the project team with an essential tool to coordinate and track the acquisition efforts.
Project Details
- Owner: UTA Hal Johnson, Project Development Manager
- Completion Date: est. December 2021
Right of Way Survey Team
- Travis Daley, Right of Way Project Manager
- Michael Nadeau, Survey Project Manager
A bit of history
When Frontrunner service between Ogden and Salt Lake City began in 2008, it included stops near the Weber/Box Elder County line in Pleasant View. UTA owns exclusive track for Frontrunner south of 12th street in Ogden all the way into Utah County. When the Pleasant View service was running, Frontrunner was operating on a shared track with Union Pacific. But the federal Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 required that all shared rail providers implement safety systems that would have required a significant investment in equipment from UTA. As a result, the agency ultimately suspended service to Pleasant View. The new plan to purchase the right-of-way and build a track separate from Union Pacific is underway. Eventually this will serve the north as well as restore the Pleasant View station and add additional stations at Business Depot Ogden, in Willard and in Brigham City.