REALTORS and community leaders attended an event to welcome the new FrontRunner South project, a commuter rail line extending south from Salt Lake City. The Utah County Association of REALTORS organized the event to support improved transportation infrastructure, which is important for economic development, jobs, and quality of life. Congestion costs the U.S. economy $78 billion annually in wasted time and fuel. Public transportation investments can increase state and local revenue by 16% by boosting business and personal income. The new FrontRunner line will provide an easier commute between Provo and Ogden when it opens in December 2012.

1.
FOR
IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
CONTACT
Karianne
Salisbury
Communications
Director
Phone:
801-­‐226-­‐3777
Email:
karianne@ucaor.com
REALTORS®
Welcome
FrontRunner
South
OREM,
UTAH—REALTORS®
and
community
leaders,
along
with
construction
hats,
a
commuter
train,
and
lots
of
dirt,
came
together
Aug.
17
to
welcome
to
the
FrontRunner
South
project,
scheduled
to
open
December
2012.
The
outdoor
event
took
place
at
noon
just
west
of
the
construction
site
for
future
Orem
Frontrunner
station
and
featured
remarks
from
Gov.
Herbert,
UVU
President
Matt
Holland,
and
UTA
Board
Chair
Greg
Hughes.
The
Utah
County
Association
of
REALTORS®
(UCAR)
organized
the
event
as
part
of
its
initiative
to
support
growth
in
the
community.
“As
we
planned
this
event,
I
was
often
asked,
why
is
transportation
important
to
REALTORS?,”
says
Taylor
Oldroyd,
UCAR
CEO.
“Well,
it’s
all
about
economic
development,
jobs
and
fiscal
sustainability
on
the
state
and
local
levels.
To
maintain
our
quality
of
life,
Utah
must
invest
in
improving
our
infrastructure
to
allow
companies
to
grow
and
expand.”
According
to
a
study
by
the
National
Association
of
REALTORS®
(NAR),
congestion
put
a
$78
billion
dent
in
the
U.S.
economy
through
wasted
time
and
fuel
in
2005.
For
example,
the
average
commuter
lost
38
hours
and
$710
sitting
in
traffic.
State
and
local
governments
can
also
increase
revenue
by
16
percent
as
public
transportation
investments
positively
affect
business
profits
and
personal
income.
More
than
100
community
members,
elected
officials,
REALTORS®,
and
UTA
representatives
gathered
to
support
FrontRunner
in
Utah
County.
Following
the
opening
remarks,
attendees
donned
construction
hats
and
ventured
to
the
completed
station
to
explore
the
new
double
decker—and
air
conditioned—FrontRunner
train.
When
FrontRunner
South
opens,
Utah
County
residents
will
be
able
to
travel
will
ease
on
public
transportation
from
Provo
to
Ogden.
Stations
are
planned
for
Provo,
Orem,
American
Fork,
Lehi,
and
later,
Vineyard.
“Improved
public
transportation
will
help
Utah
as
we
face
significant
challenges
as
the
second
fastest
growing
state
in
the
nation
and
a
state
becoming
the
home
for
new
and
growing
businesses,”
Oldroyd
says.
“We’ve
also
found
that
FrontRunner
will
help
met
the
public’s
priorities
for
their
community.
Our
national
research
shows
that
78
percent
of
respondents
want
to
have
less
than
a
30-­‐minute
commute
and
51
percent
value
access
to
public
transportation.
FrontRunner
is
a
step
closer
to
that
for
Utah
County.”
The
Utah
County
Association
of
REALTORS®
is
the
local
voice
of
real
estate
and
is
committed
to
its
motto
of
“Bringing
People
Home.”
REALTORS®
care
about
improving
communities
through
Smart
Growth,
which
leads
to
successful
communities
and
neighborhoods.
For
more
information,
visit
www.ucaor.com.