Farmington (UTA station)

Description

The station is located immediately west of the I-15/US-89/Legacy Parkway (SR-68)/Park Lane (SR-225) interchanges. The official address of the station, according to UTA is 450 N 850 West, but it is actually located at the south end of Station Parkway. Station Parkway is accessed by turning southeast off Park Lane (this section of the street is also known as North 1100 West) and then following Station Parkway through the roundabout. Park Lane is accessed from either I-15 or US-89 southbound by way of the appropriate Park Lane interchange. From northbound I-15 the Station is accessed by way of the US-89 northbound exit and then the Park Lane interchange on US-89.

The station is located on approximately 17 acres (69,000 m²) of land and is part of the Station Park commercial development. Since Union Pacific Railroad track run northwest to southeast between the FrontRunner platform and the parking lot for the station the use of a pedestrian bridge is necessary to cross over the tracks. The top of this bridge, and its red roof, is readily visible from I-15. The station has a free Park and Ride lot with about 870 parking spaces available. The station is located within the Quiet Zone, so trains do not routinely sound their horns when approaching public crossings within this corridor. The station is operated by Utah Transit Authority.

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 and are therefore accessible to those with disabilities. Since not all FrontRunner passenger cars are wheelchair accessible, signage at the stations, on the passenger platforms, and on the passenger cars clearly indicate accessibility options. In addition, each train has one or more Train Hosts available to provide assistance as may be needed, including the placement of ramps for wheelchair boarding. In accordance with the Utah Clean Air Act and UTA ordinance, "smoking is prohibited on UTA vehicles as well as UTA bus stops, TRAX stations, and FrontRunner stations".

History

The inaugural FrontRunner train departed the station southbound at 10:30 am on 26 April 2008.

December 2011 wind storm

In the early morning hours of 1 December 2011 a major wind storm passed through Davis County. The storm caused an overall estimated $20 million in property damages within Davis County. UTA reported began reporting problems at the Farmington Station at about 6:15 am, with train service to the station being curtailed shortly thereafter. UTA later reported, "Record breaking winds of more than 100 mph..." causing severe damage to the Farmington station. UTA also stated that, even though "FrontRunner trains are designed to withstand winds of even greater strength...", damage to the station was so severe that trains could not operate safely through the area until mid-afternoon. Much of the most visible damage was to light poles on the passenger platform and in the parking lot. A "bus bridge" was used to ferry passengers between the Layton and Salt Lake Central stations while repairs were made. Although train service resumed by 3:00 pm, the Farmington Station remained closed through the weekend while repairs to the station were completed.

Station Park

Station Park is transit-oriented commercial development that was planned specifically in conjunction with the construction of the Farmington Station and is located south of the station. It is intended to be similar to The Gateway in Salt Lake City, only bigger. A 62-acre (250,000 m²) shopping complex is nearly complete and is within walking distance of the Farmington Station, featuring a 16-screen Cinemark movie theater, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, J. C. Penney, Ross, Staples, Petco, Lane Bryant, Sports Authority and Bed, Bath & Beyond. Upon completion there will be a hotel, sixty shops and about 10 restaurants, as well as office space for lease. Residential facilities will also be included in Station Park upon completion.

FrontRunner

On weekdays the FrontRunner has about twenty-three round trips between Ogden and Provo (through Salt Lake City) and about five more round trips between Ogden and Downtown Salt Lake City. On Saturdays there are only nineteen round trips between Ogden and Provo. Trains run hourly from about 4:30 am to just after midnight on weekdays (with additional half-hour runs for the morning and evening commutes). Saturdays have hourly runs from about 6:00 am to 2:30 am Sunday morning. As of August 2013 the FrontRunner does not run on Sundays or holidays. Each weekday, service is extended to Pleasant View Station with two trains picking up (no dropping off) passengers early in the morning and two more trains picking up and dropping off passengers in the evening.

Train schedule

On weekdays the first northbound FrontRunner train (to the Ogden Intermodal Transit Center) leaves the Farmington Station at about 5:00 am and the first southbound train (to the Provo Station) leaves at about 5:45 am. The last northbound train leaves at 12:05 am (early the next morning) and the last southbound train leaves at 11:42 pm. However, the last southbound train only goes as far south as Salt Lake Central Station; the last train to Provo Station leaves at 11:12 pm. The first, last, and only trains that go as far north as the Pleasant View Station leave at 5:54 pm and 6:54 pm.

On Saturdays the first northbound train leaves at about 7:30 am and the first southbound train leaves at about 8:45 am. The last northbound train leaves at 12:24 am (early Sunday morning) and the last southbound train leaves at 1:42 am (early Sunday morning). However, the last southbound train only goes as far south as the Salt Lake Central Station; the last train to the Provo Station leaves at 11:42 pm.

Bus connections

Bus routes are current as of Change Day, 8 December 2013.