Provo Orem MAX

Provo Orem MAX
Overview
Type	Bus rapid transit (BRT)
System	UTA MAX
Status	In development
Locale	Provo/southern Orem, Utah  United States
Termini	Orem Intermodal Center Novell in East Bay Business Park
Stations	17[1]
Operation
Opened	2016 (anticipated))[2]
Owner	Utah Transit Authority (UTA)
Operator(s)	UTA
Technical
Line length	11.0 miles (17.7 km)
Operating speed	50 miles per hour (80 km/h) (maximum posted speed limit)
Route number	Not yet announced

Provo Orem MAX is a planned MAX (bus rapid transit, or "BRT") line in central Utah County, Utah, United States that will be operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) and will run between southwest Orem to south central Provo by way of Utah Valley University (UVU) and Brigham Young University (BYU). It is anticipated to be completed and begin service by 2016 and is the second of several BRT lines that UTA is planning in Utah County and the Salt Lake Valley.^[3] MAX is described by UTA as "light rail on rubber tires".^[4]

Description

Once completed the Provo Orem MAX line will connect the Orem FrontRunner Station with UVU, the University Mall, BYU, downtown Provo, the Provo FrontRunner Station, the Provo Towne Centre mall, and the East Bay business park (including Novell) and will follow a route primarily along University Parkway (SR 265) and University Avenue (US 189).^[1] The line is projected to include 17 stops (stations) and run at 10-15 minute intervals, with 5 minute headways during peak hours.^[5]

UTA had anticipated having the Provo Orem MAX operational by the time the Provo and Orem FrontRunner stations opened in the fall of 2012, but by August 2014 construction on the line had yet to commence.^[6] The Federal Transit Administration reports that construction should begin in late 2014 and service opening in 2016.^[2] The initial cost of the Provo Orem MAX is estimated to be nearly $160 million.^[7][8]

The Provo Orem MAX will connect with the FrontRunner at both the Provo and Orem intermodal centers (stations). The FrontRunner is a commuter rail) service by UTA that operates along the Wasatch Front with service from Provo, through Salt Lake County (including Salt Lake City), Davis County, and Weber County, (including Ogden) to Pleasant View (on the northern edge of Weber County). The FrontRunner also connects with UTA's TRAX light rail system in the Salt Lake Valley^[9] as well as Amtrak's (the National Railroad Passenger Corporation) California Zephyr^{[Note 1][10]} (which runs daily between Chicago, Illinois and the San Francisco Bay Area) and Greyhound inter-city buses.

All of UTA's TRAX and FrontRunner trains and stations, streetcars and streetcar stops, and all fixed route buses are compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are therefore accessible to those with disabilities.^[11] However, ADA boarding on MAX's unique buses is at the center door, rather than the front (as is the case with regular bus service). In accordance with the Utah Clean Air Act and UTA ordinance, "smoking is prohibited on UTA vehicles as well as UTA bus stops [including MAX stations], TRAX stations, and FrontRunner stations".^[12]

History

As the initial route was nearing finalization in early 2013, Brigham Young University announced that it was closing a portion of East Campus Drive.^[13][14] Even though none of the (then current) Provo Orem MAX route ran along this road (although it had been previously anticipated),^[15] the closure of this five lane road would affect traffic on nearby streets, primarily North 900 East. Since the traffic projections were based upon the use of Campus Drive, it became prudent to re-assess the portion of the route in the area of North 900 East to ensure that the previously preferred route was still the best option. As part of this discussion many alternatives arose, but it appears that the original route will still be followed, with a few modifications.^[16] One of the major considerations for keeping the original route was the strong possibility of losing federal funding, as well as substantial financial support from the Mountainland Association of Governments.^[17][18][19]

Other changes that were made later in the process included the stop that was initially planned to be located at about 1100 North 900 East. It was first moved slightly north to just north of Birch Lane/Heritage Drive in front of the BYU Creamery. However, this stop was later eliminated altogether in favor of two new stops, one on the southeast edge of BYU campus (on East 900 North) and one on the northeast edge of campus (on East University Parkway), at the anticipated entrance to the Missionary Training Center). Additional improvement recommendations were also added along North 900 East, including 10 feet (3.0 m) sidewalks.

Future plans

As the need increases and funding becomes available, Phase II improvements will be implemented. In Phase II, the northwest end of the Provo Orem MAX will be rerouted directly east from the Orem Station along 800 South (instead of south along Geneva Road) and connect with the UVU campus by way of a new high-occupancy/toll (HOT) interchange overpass. It will then pass by the north and east edges of the UVU campus before reaching University Parkway and continuing along the remainder of its original route. As part of the reroute, the single MAX stop on the south side of the UVU campus (UCU/Sandhill) will be replaced by three new stops along the north and east sides of campus.^[20] The cost of Phase II is anticipated to be about $18 million.^[8]

In addition to the Phase II improvements to the line, UTA also plans to eventually augment the Provo Orem MAX with additional MAX (BRT) lines within about 7–16 years. One of the MAX lines will run north from the Provo Station following along 500 East (US-89) in Provo; State Street (US-89) through Provo, Orem, Lindon, and Pleasant Grove; and Main Street (US 89) through American Fork until it reaches the American Fork FrontRunner Station. Another MAX line will run south from the Provo Station though East Bay Business Park, then east along East 1860 South to South State Street (US 89), then south through Springville on Main Street (US 89), then southwest along South State Road (SR-51) to Spanish Fork, and finally through Spanish Fork (on Expressway Lane, East 800 North, North Main Street, and West Center Street) until it reaches the planned FrontRunner Station in Spanish Fork (west of I-15 and south of West Center Street).^[21]

Route

UTA has not yet assigned a route number to the Provo Orem MAX.

Note: The following route is an approximate description of the "locally preferred route" (LPR) and is still subject to changes before finalization.

South Orem

The Provo Orem MAX will begin at the Orem Intermodal Center (FrontRunner station), which is located at 900 South 1350 West. After heading east to and then briefly south on Geneva Road (SR-114), it will head east on University Parkway (SR-265) to cross over I-15 and then turn north on Sandhill Road. At the end of this very short stretch of Sandhill Road it will turn east (through the roundabout) and then head east on College Drive (on the southern edge of the UVU campus) until it reaches the UVU/Sandhill stop on College Drive and/or West 1200 South. From that stop it will continue east on West 1200 South until it reaches another roundabout at South 400 West. Immediately after turning south on South 400 East and then east again on West University Parkway (1300 South) it will reach the 400 West stop (to be located in the median of West University Parkway, just east of South 400 West).

From the 400 West stop the Provo Orem MAX will continue east in dedicated inside lanes and will ascend the Orem Bench and then cross South 200 West and South Main Street. Immediately after crossing South Main Street it will arrive at the Main Street stop (to be located in the median of West University Parkway). After that stop it will continue east in its dedicated inside lanes, crossing South 200 East and State Street (US-89) before passing by the south side of the University Mall and reaching the last stop in Orem (University Mall) at about 700 East. The station for this stop will also be located in the median of East University Parkway. Shortly after that stop, it will cross South 800 East and then head southeast on University Parkway to descend the Orem Bench as it leaves Orem and enters Provo.

North Provo

Continuing southeast on North University Parkway in its dedicated inside lanes the Provo Orem MAX will reach the 2230 North stop just before crossing West 2230 South/North 550 West. The station for this stop will again be located in the median of West University Parkway. From that stop it will continue southeast on North University Parkway in its dedeicated lanes until it passes over the Provo River and then crosses North 200 West (Freedom Boulevard) and North University Avenue (US-189).

Immediately after crossing North University Avenue the Provo Orem MAX will head east on East University Parkway (1650 North) in shared lanes and will cross North 150 East (North Canyon Road) before passing by the northern edge of the BYU campus and the southern side of the LaVell Edwards Stadium. Just east of the stadium it will arrive at the LaVell Edwards Stadium stop at about 350 East. The stations for this stop will be located on the sides of East University Parkway, directly north of the Larry H. Miller baseball field and immediately east of the signalized intersection with the events parking lot access.^{[Note 2]} Since there are no dedicated lanes along this portion of the route, bus turnouts will be included for this stop. From this stop it will continue east on East University Parkway as it transitions from 1650 North to 1700 North. At about 850 East it will reach the next (yet unnamed) stop. This stop will have two stations on the sides of East University Parkway. A new crosswalk with a traffic light will be constructed that will continue straight north across East University Parkway from the existing sidewalk (pedestrian path) that runs along the east side of the Harmon Building. The southbound stop (heading east) will be just east of the crosswalk and the northbound stop (heading west) will be west of the crosswalk and the current parking lot access (which is anticipated to become the new main entrance to the Missionary Training Center). Since there are still no dedicated lanes along this portion of the route, bus turnouts will be also included for this stop.

After that stop the Provo Orem MAX will continue in shared traffic lanes to turn south onto North 900 east and pass by the eastern edge of BYU campus. Shortly after crossing Birch Lane/Heritage Drive, it will turn west onto East 900 North and immediately reach the next (yet unnamed) stop on the southeast corner of BYU campus. This will stop will be the primary stop for BYU campus and will have two stations (one on each side of East 900 North), rather than a single station in the median. From that stop it will continue briefly west on East 900 North before that road curves south to become North 700 East.^{[Note 3]} There will be dedicated outside lanes on East 900 North between Campus Drive and North 900 East, except for the easternmost portion for the northbound buses (heading east at this point) which will be crossing from the outside lane to make a left-hand turn onto North 900 East. Also, regular traffic between Campus Drive and North 900 East will be reduced from two lanes to one lane in each direction.

After briefly continuing south on North 700 East in shared lanes the Provo Orem MAX will turn west again on East 700 North. Continuing on, in dedicated lanes once again, it will head east until it crosses North 600 East and 500 East, passes by far southern edge of BYU campus, and reaches the 400 East stop (to be located in the median of East 700 North just east of North 400 East). From that stop it will continue west again, still in its dedicated inside lanes, and will cross North 400 East, North 300 East, North 200 East, and North 100 East, before finally arriving back at North University Avenue.

After reaching North University Avenue again, the Provo Orem MAX will turn south on that road and continue on, still in its dedicated inside lanes, to cross 600 North and arrive at the 600 North stop (to be located in the median of University Avenue, just south of 600 North). From that stop it will continue south in its dedicated inside lanes and cross 500 North, 400 North, and 300 North and then arrive at the 300 North stop (to be located in the median of University Avenue, just south of 300 North). After that stop it will enter the main downtown Provo business district and continue south in its dedicated inside lanes and cross 200 North, 100 North, and Center Street.

South Provo

After crossing Center Street the Provo Orem MAX will immediately arrive at the Center Street stop (to be located in the median of University Avenue just south of Center Street). From that stop it will continue south, still in its dedicated inside lanes, crossing 200 South and 300 South (US-89) before reaching the 400 South stop (to be located in the median of University Avenue, just north of 400 South). After crossing 400 South it will continue in shared lanes (beyond the 400 South stop there are no more dedicated lanes for the Provo Orem MAX) as it crosses over the 600 South and the Union Pacific and FrontRunner tracks on the South University Avenue Viaduct. Immediately after the viaduct it will cross 780 South and then reaches 920 South and turn west. After briefly heading west on West 920 South, it will turn north onto South 100 East. After crossing West 700 South it will reach the Provo Intermodal Center (FrontRunner station).

After its stop at the Provo Intermodal Center, the Provo Orem MAX head briefly west on West 700 South until it once again reaches South 200 West (Freedom Boulevard). After turning south on South 200 West it will continue in shared lanes as it passes through the West 920 South roundabout, crosses West 1020 South and reaches Towne Centre Boulevard. At Towne Centre Boulevard it will turn east and continue very briefly until the road turns south. Continuing south, still in shared lanes, it will reach the Provo Towne Centre Mall stop(s) as it passes by the east side of the mall. It will then continue south on Town Centre Boulevard (at about 100 West) until it reaches Towne Centre Drive (at about 1450 South) and turns east on that road. Continuing east in shared lanes Towne Centre Drive becomes East East Bay Boulevard after it crosses South University Avenue.

Continuing east in a shared lane on East East Bay Boulevard it will cross South 40 East, and South 180 East before reaching the Novell stop (to be located just east of South 180 East on the east bound lanes). It will then turn south as East East Bay Boulevard curves and becomes South East Bay Boulevard. Upon reaching 1860 South it will turn west and, while still in a shared lane, it will arrive at the Southgate Center stop (to be located on the west bound lanes). From that stop it will continue west until it once again reaches South University Avenue. After turning north on South University Avenue, it will continue north until it turns west on Towne Centre Drive.

The Provo Orem MAX stops only once at both the Novell and Southgate Center stops (in one direction only) as it loops clockwise through the East Bay Businsess Park. After turning west onto Towne Centre Drive, it follows its route back to the Orem Intermodal Center as it stops at all the other stops/stations alone its route.

Stops

Initially 15-17 stops are planned for the Provo Orem MAX.^{[1][2][22][23]} The stops indicated are based upon the best information available so far and are subject to change before the project is finalized.

Future Stops

As part of Phase II three new stop will be created on the north and northeast side of the UVU campus and the stop on the south side of campus (UVU/Sandhill) will be eliminated.

See also

• MAX
• FrontRunner

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Provo Orem MAX.

• Bus Rapid Transit fact sheet
• Official UTA website
• Official UTA MAX website
• Provo Orem Bus Rapid Transit Project