Salt Lake Transit News Thread

[Paniolo Man]

They asked that we don't take pictures inside, so you'll have to believe me when I say I'm posting this from inside a FLIRT.

Stop by, open until 4.

[Paniolo Man]

It appears I was wrong about the comets all getting scrapped. An acquaintance with inside info gave me some good news. 13 comets are going to Heritage Rail Management in Kansas.

[Paniolo Man]

Since this thread seems to lack attention recently I have compiled some info about my ideal Moab Rail Service. I may soon try to compile this info in a way that I could distribute to various public officials. I truly believe that Moab is the best starting point for statewide service, millions of visitors to that area and nearly all of the needed infrastructure already exists.









Here is a link to a full res version.

[SLCPolitico]

The Point of the Mountain Land Authority Board, the entity responsible for redevelopment of the Utah State Prison site, will be discussing LRT in their upcoming meeting on Tuesday, July 18 from 9am to 11am. The agenda item says: "Rep. Teuscher will present and seek board support for a proposal to extend the LRT Red Line to The Point."

The board meeting can be streamed online at bit.ly/thepointyoutube

[Old&New]

Originally Posted by Hatman

Important update! Our public event has changed venues! Please join us at 7:00pm on January 26th at the Woodbine Food Hall on 545 West 700 South!

• Video Link

Any update on the Rio Grande Plan?

[Paniolo Man]

Originally Posted by Old&New

Any update on the Rio Grande Plan?

SLC's study website hasn't been updated and our own Hatman appears to be MIA at the moment. Busy time of year for engineers. Really hoping to hear something out of SLC soon.

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by SLCPolitico

The Point of the Mountain Land Authority Board, the entity responsible for redevelopment of the Utah State Prison site, will be discussing LRT in their upcoming meeting on Tuesday, July 18 from 9am to 11am. The agenda item says: "Rep. Teuscher will present and seek board support for a proposal to extend the LRT Red Line to The Point."

The board meeting can be streamed online at bit.ly/thepointyoutube

Thanks for the tip. I loathe the idea of the a new, disconnected LRT line built from Lehi to Draper but I am much more okay with the idea of extending the Red or Blue lines (or both) to the prison site. The driving goal should be connectivity with the existing LRT network.

Originally Posted by Old&New

Any update on the Rio Grande Plan?

Stay tuned. We've all been busy lately but we are planning a couple more IRL events. The first one will be focused on developers/politicians but the second (later, this fall) will likely be more open to the public.

[Paniolo Man]

Originally Posted by SLCPolitico

The Point of the Mountain Land Authority Board, the entity responsible for redevelopment of the Utah State Prison site, will be discussing LRT in their upcoming meeting on Tuesday, July 18 from 9am to 11am. The agenda item says: "Rep. Teuscher will present and seek board support for a proposal to extend the LRT Red Line to The Point."

The board meeting can be streamed online at bit.ly/thepointyoutube

The meeting was kind of a let down, they seemed completely disconnected from the UDOT study being different from the UTA study. They didn't seem to be aware of the corridor UDOT is pursuing. They never really discussed the UDOT LRT alignment and just kind of chatted about extending the Red Line, passing a motion to "support analysis of extension of the Red Line".

[Makid]

Originally Posted by Paniolo Man

The meeting was kind of a let down, they seemed completely disconnected from the UDOT study being different from the UTA study. They didn't seem to be aware of the corridor UDOT is pursuing. They never really discussed the UDOT LRT alignment and just kind of chatted about extending the Red Line, passing a motion to "support analysis of extension of the Red Line".

This is inline with the Governor's plan as well as the original long term plan that UTA had.

That was that the Blue Line would extend down to Lehi, if not American Fork. The Red Line would extend to Herriman and then turn East and travel near 126th South, cross through the prison redevelopment area, and join the Blue Line near the Pluralsight HQ building.

This plan was even included in the overall design and layout of the Pluralsight campus.

It appears that this plan is still the one that the redevelopment commission/board is using for their planning.

I think that we will end up with the original plan, it may just take a little longer for it to be complete than originally planned.

[Paniolo Man]

I asked the Salt Lake City Transportation Division about progress on the East-West Connections study.

The City is still in the process of receiving the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant funds from the federal government. We'll make sure to keep everyone updated on social media and the project website once we move forward with the study.

It seems the study hasn't started and SLC is awaiting dispersal of announced funding. Hopefully they can get started soon.

[Paniolo Man]

The FRA Long-Distance Study has provided an update on routes under consideration, including three new segments through or terminating in SLC.









If these corridors come to fruition, SLC would be a western rail transit hub and likely need better facilities for passengers and train maintenance. Personally, I could see this coupled with the Rio Grande Plan and a proper terminus for routes in Ogden or Murray. A dedicated maintenance facility for Amtrak and Regional trains could be created in the vicinity of the terminus.

[Hatman]

Thanks Paniolo Man! I saw when the big PDF was released, but I didn't even bother opening it because I knew you'd post the SLC-relevant stuff soon enough.

It's pretty exciting that even the FRA is beginning to promote SLC as a regional hub. We really are in the best place to connect to all parts of the west coast. Unfortunately, without further funding to act on these plans, I doubt we'll see much in the way of near-term results. Amtrak is running surprisingly low on rail equipment (too many crashes!), and the freight lines around SLC are pretty heavily used by UP and would need government help to add capacity, the way Virginia and North Carolina are doing.

Long term (when Amtrak's new Long Distance passenger equipment is expected to enter service in the 2030's), I hope we do get these 4 routes added, more convenient 2nd departure times for our existing route, the Rio Grande Plan, and maintenance/terminal facilities in Ogden and Provo (Murray would also be ok). It just makes so much sense, and it's what the people want!

[Utahn]

UTA has updated it's Frontrunner South Extension webpage to indicate that it's moving ahead with environmental review for construction of stations in Springville, Spanish Fork, and Payson. Still several years away but there's an updated timeline and movement on the project now.

https://www.frontrunnersouthextension.com/

[fidel_cashflo]

Originally Posted by Utahn

UTA has updated it's Frontrunner South Extension webpage to indicate that it's moving ahead with environmental review for construction of stations in Springville, Spanish Fork, and Payson. Still several years away but there's an updated timeline and movement on the project now.

https://www.frontrunnersouthextension.com/

Great news, but why are they planning this extension to be majority single track? Did they not learn their lesson from the first time around? UTA planning division has been so hell bent on value engineering since the board change it's not even funny.

[Hatman]

Originally Posted by fidel_cashflo

Great news, but why are they planning this extension to be majority single track? Did they not learn their lesson from the first time around? UTA planning division has been so hell bent on value engineering since the board change it's not even funny.

I agree with too much short sighted value engineering. I miss the old UTA attitude around Frontlines 2015.
For the Payson extension, I'm fine with a single track initially, so long as they leave themselves the space for a second track in the future. Especially since this extension will require a flyover structure. The first such structure they built (in Ogden) is fantastic since it was designed for 2 tracks, but the second structure (South Jordan) was not, and it will pose a serious problem when the time comes to completely double track.

[i-215]

Originally Posted by fidel_cashflo

Great news, but why are they planning this extension to be majority single track? Did they not learn their lesson from the first time around? UTA planning division has been so hell bent on value engineering since the board change it's not even funny.

It's the "Bangerter Highway" mistake. UDOT learned, 20 years later, that even if you can't afford to build a full freeway, it's good to save enough land to later "fix" it. Now they have to spend a fortune retrofitting a freeway into not enough space.

Same goes for UTA. Even if they can't double-track now, it might make sense to secure enough ROW -- and design the project so they can add in the second track later.

[bob rulz]

We need something like a FrontLines 2040 on the ballot. Another big, well-funded mass transit expansion for the Wasatch Front.

[Makid]

Originally Posted by bob rulz

We need something like a FrontLines 2040 on the ballot. Another big, well-funded mass transit expansion for the Wasatch Front.

I agree. I have heard that there is a desire for another FrontLines project push. There are however a couple of things that are delaying this. The first is the announcement regarding the 2030/2034 Winter Olympics. The second is the Rio Grande Plan study.

The hope is that the Feds may step up and pay for the Rio Grande Plan or at least 80% of the plan with an Olympics announcement. This would then allow local funds to go for expansions/extensions.

A few projects that I can see getting funded are:

Red Line extension through PoM redevelopment
Blue Line extension to Lehi if not American Fork
BRT from SLC to Centerville
BRT along 5600 West
Streetcar extensions (Millcreek & Westminster)
BRT Lehi to Eagle Mountain

While there are others that I would like, these are the projects that I can see having the biggest regional impact that would work for a FrontLines initiative.

I would like to include Park City to SLC Commuter Rail but I don't think Park City/Summit County would dedicate any funding and I would prefer the Fed's help with the Rio Grande plan as a priority.

Tooele is still too small to dedicate funding to a fixed route project, be it rail or BRT. Maybe just include corridor preservation.

I didn't include any FrontRunner upgrades as they are already planned and funding is being secured currently so any new initiative wouldn't include FrontRunner for now in my opinion.

[Atlas]

I like that list, Makid, but I'd add the Red Line 400S/400W extension between Library and Ballpark. That should happen sooner than later, given the Granary's explosive growth. We don't want any more 1000-stall parking structures.

I also think this might be a good time to throw in a Tooele-SLC regional rail connection (PC extension eventually) and a FrontRunner extension to Brigham City.

[Paniolo Man]

Originally Posted by Makid

Red Line extension through PoM redevelopment
Blue Line extension to Lehi if not American Fork

Realistically these lines would need to be split, Red and Blue are already about as long as Light Rail comfortably gets. I Like UDOT's plan to have it be a separate line from POM to Lehi. I'd take it further and have an LR line down State Street in Utah County, largely replacing the existing Route 850. I see no reason that Utah County LR lines should be extensions of Salt Lake lines, cross traffic should take Frontrunner.

I ought to find a more direct way to be an advocate for rail transit, I'm sure Governor Cox is sick of my letters by now.