Salt Lake Transit News Thread

[Boiseguy]

they should tax the piss out of people who choose not to use public transportation when it is readily available to them. I'm sorry if that sounds commy and liberal, But someone has to pay for all the upkeep and building of these massive freeway projects that so many of you like. Yet, in many conservative states, The people driving the big SUV's and Ford F-350's to their office jobs everyday seem to be the last people willing to increase their taxes to pay for the upkeep and building of the freeways to accomodate them. It just seems so silly.. and I totally understand the freedom associated with owning a car, and protecting the rights of the "individual". I guess I'm just an advocate for making big SUV's and Cars just as available as it always has been, but just making them properly pay for it. There is nothing wrong with government intervention in directing the market in a way that promotes smart and sustainable means of transportation and developement. It ensures that taxpayer investments such as TRAX and FrontRunner remain strong and good investments. The Free Market can sometimes be the demise of public works projects and investment... which is why I advocate regulation/taxation on these issues.

[Urban_logic]

Originally Posted by scrapernerd

Hey Urbanboy I thought liberals Liked pot?

I am fairly "liberal" and I don't smoke pot. I barely consume carbonation - much less alcohol, tabacco, or caffine. High-fructose corn syrup is probably the worst thing I consume, and even that I limit whenever possible. (those mugs have sugar-cane sweetened, non-caffinated root beer in them )

[Urban_logic]

There should always be moderation and a combination of all things when it comes to Urban Planning - reasonable tolls, appropriate fuel taxes, effective transportation networks (both rails, freeways, surface streets, etc.) The key is how to moderate these things and by how much - should we focus a little more on tolls, or more on fuel taxes? I suppose it depends on the region. Like 215 pointed out, it might be better to focus more on fuel taxes in more suburban settings like the Wasatch Front. In the Bay Area, people can't leave the freeways and flood surface streets because the bridge is the only way (unless they choose to ferry across the bay, or ride mass-transit). In New York, there is no way off the island without going through some sort of tunnel or over a bridge. In places like San Francisco or New York, a more toll-oriented system may make more sense.

[urbanboy]

Originally Posted by Boiseguy

...I totally understand the freedom associated with owning a car, and protecting the rights of the "individual".

One product of good urban planning is having this same freedom, without having to own a car. If we build our cities and infrastructure around people rather than automobiles, it will actually improve the quality of life for all people living in those cities, rather than only helping the few people (and their families) who run the auto industry.

[i-215]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

One product of good urban planning is having this same freedom, without having to own a car. If we build our cities and infrastructure around people rather than automobiles, it will actually improve the quality of life for all people living in those cities, rather than only helping the few people (and their families) who run the auto industry.

But is there a way to do this without turning cities into New York?

[shakman]

Originally Posted by i-215

But is there a way to do this without turning cities into New York?

There are plenty of other examples besides New York. Besides, I would rather be in New York than in DC, especially during rush hour.

What urbanboy is stating is quite do-able.

[i-215]

Originally Posted by shakman

There are plenty of other examples besides New York. Besides, I would rather be in New York than in DC, especially during rush hour.

What urbanboy is stating is quite do-able.

Well, I don't think the solution is to build a growth fence and force people to urbanize. But I do think we are making progress in areas near transit, that are densifying (is that a word?) and these projects help slow the outward growth.

Accentuate the positive, rather than penalize the "negative."

[Urban_logic]

Originally Posted by i-215

densifying (is that a word?)

If it's not, then I coined it!!

[shakman]

Originally Posted by i-215

Well, I don't think the solution is to build a growth fence and force people to urbanize. But I do think we are making progress in areas near transit, that are densifying (is that a word?) and these projects help slow the outward growth.

Another phrase for "densifying" would be "Smart Growth". It is a term used here on the East Coast relative to developments being concentrated along transit right-of-ways.

Accentuate the positive, rather than penalize the "negative."

Another phrase for "densifying" would be "Smart Growth". It is a term used here on the East Coast relative to developments being concentrated along transit right-of-ways.

[delts145]

UDOT officials provide more detail about I-15 rebuild in Utah Co.

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705283056,00.html

State transportation officials gave Utah legislators a number of funding options Thursday aimed at getting most of I-15 in Utah Country rebuilt and widened...

...Basically, the I-15 work will be shortened and made less expensive through a number of alternatives.

The most favored approach, it seems, is called "the core" — rebuild I-15 from American Fork to the freeways Springville/U.S. 6 interchange.

Originally, that was scheduled to cost $2.63 billion. But UDOT officials say they now think they can do it for between $1.8 and $2.1 billion, depending on the cost of construction materials.

UDOT has received bids well below expectations on recent road contracts, said Carlos Braceras, UDOT deputy director...

.

[WeST]

Delts' article that he posted is great news for us taxpayers! This reminds me of all the times that our elected officials have said something like, "We better get this project going (meaning under contract) because costs will just continue to go up and up." Now we find ourselves in a deepening recession and commodity prices are plummeting. While we don't know when a recession will happen, this goes to show it may sometimes benefit us to wait if we see, the market is softening.

Speaking of cost cuts, does anyone know if UTA locks in their pricing on these TRAX projects? If so, I guess were getting hosed on the mid jordan line and others. Maybe it balances out in the end.

[delts145]

Pothole package? UDOT proposes 44 road projects - Stimulus » Federal money would fix state's roads, bridges.

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_11635474?source=rv



It will be potholes and pilings over superhighways in Utah's planned spending of federal stimulus funds for state roads.

The Utah Department of Transportation wants to spread its impending windfall across the state, listing 44 projects that focus mostly on patching crumbling asphalt and fixing worn-out bridges.

UDOT on Thursday presented its recommended list of $190 million in state road jobs to the Utah Transportation Commission. The commission will finalize that list next week and may erase or add projects at that time...

.

[delts145]

Mayors OK road projects, anticipating federal funds - Tentatively » $22.6 million could go to nine projects.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11639551

Salt Lake County mayors urgently approved Thursday nine road projects to be ready to go if they receive $22.6 million targeted for transportation in a planned federal stimulus package.

If the projects are funded with stimulus dollars, it would free money currently slated for those projects for future construction, said Wasatch Front Regional Council Executive Director Chuck Chappell, who presented the list to the Council of Governments...


Local road projects that could be partially or fully funded by proposed federal stimulus :

In Sandy, $2.5 million for improvements to two different intersections on 9000 South and $1.5 million to widen the on-ramps on Interstate 15.

In Cottonwood Heights, $1.7 million to improve the intersection from 3000 East to Interstate 215 at 6200 South

In unincorporated Salt Lake County, $5 million for reconstruction and widening on 3900 South from Highland Drive to 2300 East

Almost $7.9 million to improve the area between I-215, Redwood Road and 6200 South.

Nearly $2.2 million to widen ramps on Interstate 80 and I-215 dual exits.

About $1.9 million to expand computer-based programs -- like CommuterLink, traffic monitoring stations and ramp meters -- on local and state roads.
.

[arkhitektor]

I was playing around with some new graphics editing software last night and put together a map showing all of the UTA rail lines that are completed or under construction. In case you hadn't realized, were going to have a pretty awesome system in a few years:



I stylized it a bit and removed some of the turns that TRAX takes in the west part of downtown because showing the exact route got pretty jumbled. I am assuming that W. Valley and Mid-Jordan trains will continue all the way into downtown.

Compare that to what we had less than 10 years ago, and you can see that we're doing pretty well as far as developing a transit network goes:



Also, I saw this on KSL.com yesterday:

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=5570660

The Mid-Jordan line is about a year ahead of schedule and will now open in mid-2011.

[delts145]

Very cool Ark, Thanks

[shakman]

That is quite extensive.

[urbanboy]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

I was playing around with some new graphics editing software last night and put together a map showing all of the UTA rail lines that are completed or under construction. In case you hadn't realized, were going to have a pretty awesome system in a few years:



I stylized it a bit and removed some of the turns that TRAX takes in the west part of downtown because showing the exact route got pretty jumbled. I am assuming that W. Valley and Mid-Jordan trains will continue all the way into downtown.

Simply beautiful! Well done! You should submit it to UTA!!!! Very legible!

[cololi]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

This is a great map. Although I don't think people realize that not all lines are going to Salt Lake Central Station. It is likely the WVC line will go to the U and back and not into downtown. There is also talk of the Sandy line going to the airport. The airport line will not go to the hub. It will go into downtown. The plan for a second hub on the N Temple overpass will absolutely kill the hub. If the 400 W route gets finalized, we will look back in twenty years and say it is the worst mistake we ever made. Also the line does not show the University extension down 400 S to the Hub (EIS is done, currently seeking funding).

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by cololi

This is a great map. Although I don't think people realize that not all lines are going to Salt Lake Central Station. It is likely the WVC line will go to the U and back and not into downtown. There is also talk of the Sandy line going to the airport. The airport line will not go to the hub. It will go into downtown. The plan for a second hub on the N Temple overpass will absolutely kill the hub. If the 400 W route gets finalized, we will look back in twenty years and say it is the worst mistake we ever made. Also the line does not show the University extension down 400 S to the Hub (EIS is done, currently seeking funding).

An article I read yesterday said the WVC line was only going to the 2100 S. TRAX station.

[i-215]

Excellent map. UTA could literally lift that and start printing it.

Well done!

Originally Posted by Stenar

An article I read yesterday said the WVC line was only going to the 2100 S. TRAX station.

I hope they change their mind. With four lines going into downtown, the frequency will be (could be) awesome! A train every three minutes! Now that's excellent, even by my so-impatient-I-refuse-to-ride-UTA-ever-so-I-always-drive standards.