RAPID TRANSIT BETWEEN CITIES SHOULD BE PROVIDED BY WASHINGTON COUNTY.
CITIES CANNOT AGREE ON FUNDING FOR RAPID TRANSIT.
Here is a section of the 2023 MPO plan from Chapter 13:
Hurricane and Zion National Park Corridor
"The Dixie Bus Rapid Transit Feasibility Study (BRT study) and the Hurricane to Zion Canyon Transit Study both point to the potential short term and long-term viability of transit service in this corridor. The BRT study evaluated the potential for long-term feasibility of transit service between central St George City and Hurricane City and central St George City and the airport. The study suggests that when the service area reaches 252,000 people and 143,000 jobs, BRT service will be viable. However, conventional bus service should be implemented to serve existing demand. Map 9 displays the potential alignments for these routes. The Hurricane to Zion Canyon Transit Study evaluates and recommends transit service between Hurricane and Zion National Park. After analyzing demand in the corridor, the study recommends implementing fixed-route transit service with 60-minute headways. The study emphasizes that transit would only be viable in this corridor provided that a transit connection is also provided between St George and Hurricane. The next step toward implementing transit in this corridor is to provide an implementation plan for transit service in the short term, which identifies service characteristics, fare structure, and funding, given resources that are available at the present time. This service is likely to be provided initially through an inter-local agreement with St George City, Hurricane, Springdale, and other communities in the corridor."
By the time we can implement the transit service to Zion Corridor, the service area will easily reach 252,000 people. The delay caused by the inter-local agreement between cities will further complicate the implementation of rapid transit. Our tourism will suffer as well as our local work force ability to get to work. The county needs to provide rapid transit between our cities beginning now.