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TO: |
Board of Trustees |
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FROM: |
Jon Larsen, Chief Capital Services Officer |
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PRESENTER(S): |
Jon Larsen, Chief Capital Services Officer |
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Paul Drake, Director of Real Estate & Transit-Oriented Communities |
TITLE:
title
R2026-05-01 - Resolution Accepting the Conveyance of UDOT Parcel 123:Z for the Sharp/Tintic Connection Project
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AGENDA ITEM TYPE:
Resolution
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution R2026-05-01 to accept ownership of property acquired by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) for the Sharp/Tintic Connection Project valued at $3,582,095.
BACKGROUND:
The Sharp/Tintic Connection project will construct a section of the future FrontRunner alignment to connect the Sharp Subdivision to the Tintic Industrial Lead. This will connect property owned by UTA in the Sharp alignment and the Tintic alignment. The work includes new track within the cities of Springville and Spanish Fork. This connection allows over 2 miles of active freight traffic on the Tintic line to be closed. The project will eliminate 7 existing crossings and simplify construction of a grade-separated crossing of the Sharp Line, to be built by the Springville/Spanish Fork Interchange project. Additionally, the project connects UTA-owned rail corridors, enabling FrontRunner to be extended to Payson in the future.
UDOT and UTA have assigned the following identifiers to the project:
• Sharp/Tintic Connection: (UDOT) PIN 14988_Project No. F-LC49(169); (UTA) MSP215
Pursuant to the agreement approved by the Board of Trustees on May 22, 2024 titled HB 322 Fund Transfers and Work Designation Agreement Between Utah Department of Transportation and Utah Transit Authority (UTA Contract 24-P00350), the management of the Sharp/Tintic project was transferred to UDOT. The project is advancing through design and UDOT is preparing to acquire the needed right of way.
DISCUSSION:
UTA and UDOT recommend that parcels for the Sharp/Tintic Connection be purchased directly in UTA’s name to avoid duplicating cost, time, effort, and documentation. It also ensures that UTA receives the properties in a timely manner and is covered under title insurance. That process also simplifies ownership, access rights, and maintenance responsibilities.
Consolidating the corridor properties in UTA’s name enhances property management efficiency and consolidates environmental and reporting responsibilities.
In accordance with UTA Board of Trustees Policy No. 5.2 (III.A.2), Board approval by resolution is required for all real property transactions of $1,000,000 or more. Additionally, under the recently enacted Utah Code § 57-1-48, a public entity must sign an affidavit accepting ownership at the time the property is recorded in its name. The UTA Board of Trustees issued a resolution on February 25th, 2026, to accept real property interests associated with the Sharp/Tintic Connection that have a value of less than $1,000,000. Properties over $1 million require additional approval from the Board of Trustees by resolution.
UDOT is working to acquire 247,041 square feet from Ray’s Valley Development LLC for the Sharp/Tintic Connection Project. The subject property is located in unincorporated Utah County between the communities of Springville and Spanish Fork. The appraised value of this property is $3,582,095. (UDOT Parcel 123:Z).
ALTERNATIVES:
UDOT could purchase the property in its name and then transfer it to UTA later. However, this would be a more cumbersome process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
UDOT is acquiring the right-of-way for the Sharp/Tintic Connection on UTA’s behalf using UDOT project funds, and as such UTA will not contribute any capital funding toward the purchase of the property. Following the construction of the new rail connection, UTA will assume the maintenance obligations, which are expected to be minimal and will be incorporated into the maintenance support team’s annual operating budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
• R2026-05-01 - Accepting Conveyance of UDOT Parcel 123 Z in for the Sharp Tintic Connection Project_Legal