in commuter rail and light rail systems. The FrontRunner line, the main commuter rail, is being developed to include more work hubs along the line to reduce traffic congestion. Furthermore, efforts are underway to connect the two main airports in the state and improve east-west transportation links, particularly in rapidly growing areas like Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs. “We’ve tried to help encourage the cities to take the bulk of the development… it’s really helped to disperse the load of having too many government entities trying to do too many different things,” Nair says. Having the cities themselves direct development is an excellent way to ensure that the work being done is best aligned with any given city’s specific needs, and shows the multi-faceted nature of the county’s development strategy. BUILDING FOR TOMORROW, TODAY Looking ahead, Utah County has several exciting developments on the horizon. The new regional sports complex in Provo, set to include facilities for pickleball, soccer, lacrosse, and tennis, is anticipated to attract visitors from around the world. The complex’s completion will significantly boost local tourism and economic activity and has even inspired consideration from county leadership to develop more hotel space to accommodate the inevitable influx of people, both residents and tourists alike. According to Blair, this new complex is lining up to be a project “the likes of which people have never seen in the intermountain west.” 11 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07 UTAH COUNTY, UT
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