Crucial transit decisions for Ogden are imminent


by Dan Schroeder (May 2009)


Planning for Ogden’s next major transit investment is well underway. This project will provide better public transportation service between downtown Ogden and Weber State University.


Public scoping meetings were held in late March. Since then, government officials and consultants have worked hard to evaluate and debate the many alternatives for the new transit corridor. Within a few weeks, these decision makers could decide both the alignment of the transit system and whether it will take the form of an electric streetcar, traditional buses, or “bus rapid transit” with exclusive lanes.


The end points of the transit corridor are already determined: The Ogden Intermodal Hub at 23rd and Wall, and somewhere near 4400 S. Harrison Blvd., to serve the Dee Events Center and McKay-Dee Hospital.


In between these points, there are widely differing views over the best alignment--with the biggest dispute over the alternatives for getting from Washington Blvd. to Harrison. An alignment along 25th or 26th Street would serve the densely populated east-central neighborhood as well as Ogden High School. A more southerly alignment, along 30th or 36th, would serve more of Washington Blvd. However, long-range plans call for a separate transit improvement along Washington in another decade or two.


The Sierra Club’s position is that the transit system should go wherever it will be used the most. And according to a feasibility study conducted in 2005, that would be on or near 26th Street. The Utah Department of Transportation, however, has reservations about putting dedicated transit lanes on Harrison. Mayor Godfrey also favors the southerly alignments.


Our hope is that the current study process will focus on the objective trade-offs between the competing alignments, including ways to address the concerns of UDOT and others. The decisions made now will affect Ogden for generations to come, so these decisions should not be made hastily, under pressure from UDOT or other special interests.


Related documents:

This topic is frequently discussed on Weber County Forum.


Back to Ogden Sierra Club home page