The area has been used by various railroads for more than 100 years, and UTA is working to preserve the site’s history. A locomotive shop was built on the site in 1923 for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad and is the oldest railroad building of its kind in the state. Rather than building a new structure, UTA has chosen to repurpose the historic locomotive shop into a new bus maintenance facility. The building will be reinforced to meet current earthquake safety standards, and features like the original brick and windows will be preserved.
“This is a historic landmark,” said UTA Project Manager Greg Thorpe. “It’s worth saving.”
The Depot District Clean Fuels Technology Center will replace the aging 45-year old Central Bus Garage. The garage is designed to serve a maximum of 90 vehicles and cannot be expanded due to a lack of available land.
The structure will be built to meet LEED green building standards and is expected to be complete by mid-to-late 2021. It’s part of a larger revitalization program planned for the Depot District neighborhood of Salt Lake City, which includes the addition of transit-accessible housing and shopping.