North Temple's 'grand' vision debated - TRAX trade-off » Should money be steered to trees, benches and bike lanes or to concrete rail beds?
LittleNell
By Derek P. Jensen
The Salt Lake Tribune
It's the $6 million question. And the implications are grand.
Salt Lake City leaders are wrestling with whether to embed the airport TRAX line in concrete -- a $6 million venture -- or use a cheaper design that would save money for trees, art, park strips, benches and bicycle lanes.
The pedestrian-friendly rudiments highlight the city's vision for a "grand boulevard" designed to transform North Temple into an attractive capital gateway.
But the city's budget to rebuild the corridor from 600 West to 2400 West -- and possibly replace the North Temple viaduct -- is limited to $10 million. And the notion of laying "cheap," gravel-framed track has inflamed west-side angst.
Still, Community and Economic Development Director Frank Gray warns North Temple must not simply become a street with a train down the middle, bordered by sign-cluttered sidewalks like 400 South
"It is clearly not a place that a human being wants to walk," said Gray, who lived at a hotel on 400 South when first hired last year.
The new planning boss's indictment of a major capital thoroughfare was echoed by the City Council's lone architect.
"If 400 South is our example of a grand boulevard, I would say we're really ripping off the residents of Salt Lake City," said Councilman Soren Simonsen, who argued the track in the middle of a bustling boulevard is less important than what's around it. "We ought to do the edges of the street right the first time."
Councilwoman Jill Remington Love agreed, pushing for trees, lights and pedestrian amenities along North Temple. "When I envision a grand boulevard I have not envisioned 400 South at all," Love said. "I would not invest that $6 million to embed the tracks. Everyone in the city will be using this to get to the airport."
But several growing west-side communities deal with North Temple every day, argued Council Chairman Carlton Christensen. He said the Euclid neighborhood on one side and Fairpark on the other cannot easily connect if the city chooses a clunky ballast track. The embedded model mirrors the flush-to-the-street TRAX track that is common downtown.
"I have yet to run into anybody that wants ballast," said fellow west-side Councilman Van Turner, labeling it "poor taste." It looks like a train yard.
"Put your money in the center in cement -- that's what the neighborhood says."
Mayor Ralph Becker favors embedded tracks because the community prefers it, according to his spokeswoman. But Becker acknowledges the city may have to make some trade-offs to create a grand boulevard that he hopes will serve as a model for all capital streets.
Plans call for the roadway to be reduced from six lanes to four with a commuter bicycle lane in each direction. To improve the visitors' experience and encourage economic development, engineers envision large canopy street trees, new lighting, landscaped medians, solar panels on TRAX station platforms, public art and bike racks. The boulevard theme eventually could be extended to connect with State Street and City Creek Canyon.
But transportation honchos' plans to add 10-foot sidewalks for pedestrians along with "casual" or "timid" bicyclists -- perhaps paid for through a special-assessment-area fee -- also has west-siders riled.
"It's a real hit to us," said Darren Menlove, who fears the sidewalk cost per property owner could reach $6,000. "And it really serves no purpose."
Christensen suggested area owners may have to swallow hard and pay for the wider paths if they also want the embedded track.
Meantime, Simonsen, along with Councilman Luke Garrott, says the city also must settle on zoning and land-use rules for the corridor within the next year.
"If it's going to be a grand boulevard like we've been selling it … we can't put it off for 10 years," Garrott said, "especially the grand part."
The council is expected to give the Utah Transit Authority a design decision Tuesday so construction can begin.
Will the airport TRAX line be a grand gateway? The Salt Lake City Council is debating whether to embed the North Temple TRAX line in concrete or use a cheaper design. At issue: the extra millions needed to add elements for a so-called ?Grand Boulevard.?
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