Farmington station


Farmington is a commuter rail station in Farmington, Utah, United States served by the FrontRunner, Utah Transit Authority's commuter rail train that operates along the Wasatch Front with service from Ogden in central Weber County through Davis County, Salt Lake City, and Salt Lake County to Provo in central Utah County.

Description

The station is located immediately west of the I-15/US-89/Legacy Parkway /Park Lane 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 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 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.

History

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

December 2011 wind storm

In the early morning hours of December 1, 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 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 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. 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 passengers early in the morning and two more trains picking up and dropping off passengers in the evening.