WASHINGTON CITY – In its first regular meeting of the new year, the Washington City Council approved a pending agreement with the City of St. George for SunTran expansion into the city. The council was also updated on the design of the new police station slated to be built next to City Hall.
SunTran bus service
The Washington City Council unanimously approved a pending interlocal agreement with the City of St. George for SunTran bus service. City Attorney Jeff Starkey said the agreement is based on the one St. George has with Ivins, with some tweaks.
The interlocal agreement lays out the city’s initial costs for opening a bus route, as well as annual costs of operation and maintenance.
“I think we’re getting a pretty good deal for the value it gives the city,” Councilman Thad Seegmiller said.
The overall cost of starting a public transit route in Washington City will be $825,660. However, thanks to federal grants that cover a majority of the costs, the city’s costs will be $227,332 for the first year. Annual costs of operation are projected to be around $138,200.
The proposed SunTran route will likely start at Deseret Industries, 2480 Red Cliffs Drive in St. George, and proceed in an irregular loop around Washington City. Possible stops along the route include: Wal-Mart, City Hall, near BioLife Plasma Services, city parks, the area by Washington Elementary School and the Washington City Community Center, among others.
There are over 20 possible stops along the 40-minute route.
As there is an 18-month wait for a new bus once it’s ordered, Starkey said, the City Council will have time to make any potential tweaks to the route before finalizing it.
City Manager Roger Carter said he believes St. George may be ordering new buses within the next 30 to 60 days. If ordered during that time frame, Washington City’s SunTran route could begin running by late summer or early fall of 2016 once the new bus arrives.
“I’m really excited to see this come forward,” Councilman Jeff Turek said. “There’s probably a bigger need (for this) than we’re heard.”
The interlocal agreement now moves to the St. George City Council for apporval.
New police station
Washington City Police Chief Jim Keith updated the City Council on the design plan for the city’s new police station. He shared slides of the building’s design, which will have a look and color similar to City Hall and will be located next door on 100 East where the community garden current sits.
The 14,000-square-foot building is slated to have a 40-year lifespan, Keith said; and, while it will be the primary public safety office, there was also talk of creating satellite offices in other parts of the city as the population grows.
The city hopes to break ground on the new police station by the end of April, with construction expected to last at least a year.
Before adjourning the meeting, the City Council temporarily paused the meeting to convene as the city’s Municipal Building Authority in order to hold a brief public hearing regarding the issuance of bonds that will finance the building of the new police station and related improvements. The costs are set not to exceed $3.7 million with an interest rate not to exceed 6.5 percent – which may be lower now, Carter said. The bonds are set to mature over a period of 21 years.
Nobody spoke against bonding for the new police station, though a question was raised as to whether or not other locations had been considered. Seegmiller said there had been debate over the matter, and that the vote approving the facility’s final location had not been a unanimous one.
Related posts
- Washington City Council discusses SunTran expansion
- Buses over breakfast, citizens chat with Washington mayor
- City seeks public input on SunTran route connecting Ivins to Hidden Valley
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @MoriKessler
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.
I work in Washington City and I always here people there complaining about not having Sun Tram in town. this is going to make alot of people happy
I think it’s a good start. But what about running the bus through some of Washington’s residential areas? Seems like the route talked about, is not going to help the residents at all, but just bring people from St. George into the Washington businesses. Doesn’t make much sense to me!
SHADDUP STUPID.!
Wow that’s funny I wonder where I heard that before.?
So nice to see Suntran expanding to more metro-wide transit finally
It is nice to see them expanding out it will help a lot of people it’s a good sign for the communities involved.
I live in St George and I work in the city of Washington. With my car broke down, I could really benefit from that service today to get to work. Right now, the way it is, I would be dropped of at DI and walk a mile. I mile is not that far but it would be nice to have service go throughout Washington City.
I’m sorry! 🙂
My car is fixed, I’m back on the road….with my little liability insurance, so please don’t hit me if you don’t have insurance. 🙂
I don’t get off work until 11PM so it would be nice if SunTran ran at later times too. But we all can’t have our way ;0. If I could take the bus at 11:30 PM at night, I wouldn’t have to have car insurance.
You wouldn’t need auto insurance.? LOL! That was funny. The idea of extending the hours of service is being kicked around. the issue is the cost vs the amount of customers. I think in time they will extend the hours of service..
until then you better make sure you have auto insurance LOL.!
It would be awesome if they were to go down Middelton drive on there way to Washington. And placing a stop around 2100 east Middelton and another one at 1800 east and Red hills parkway.
Yeah that would be an excellent place for a bus stop
Yeah…that area is just overflowing with business’s. It would be hard-core shoppers dream. Oh wait….they’re supposed to have Mall Dr. go under the freeway to connect to Red Hills. Great idea….
It would be great if SunTran ran later as well as Sundays and Holidays. Since there is a lot of time before service is implemented as well as interest from the people of Washington, why not place a bus out there now to gauge ridership. As one of the posters above mentioned, run it through the residential areas as well as the main thoroughfare.
DANA. ABSOLUTELY
It would be radical if they would stop at 150 West 600 South in Washington. Only one stop per day is necessary. Once at 7 AM and once at 6 PM. That would be totally awesome and then SunTran would actually matter to me.
UHmmmmm….that would be two stops.
Yeah dude…. that would be, like totally awesome, dude .
Sold well let Sun Tran know because they are still trying to figure out exactly where and which way to get to places they are still interested in what the ridership needs so call them and let the city council know also. They are just looking around for now to get an idea of kind of route they are going to run. so MY EVIL TWIN needs to shut his mouth. because he has no idea what’s going on
Don’t you ever get tired of your own pitiful, inane comments? Oh yeah, making posts and then denying you made them is rather pathetic. Lunatic!
Ahhh you poor little thing you come sit on mommies lap and tell me allllllll about it my little lunatic
suntran thing is great and all, but seriously another brand new building for the boys in blue? what’s wrong with the one they have now?
Evil twin and evil twins mommy I don’t know what to make of the both of you…are you old enough to be on the internet? You act like a third grade crush- its so cute
Hey knock it off. My Evil Twin is very sensitive LOL.!