Salt Lake Transit News Thread - Page 176

Sight-Seer · #**3501** Posted **Sep 9, 2011, 2:07 PM**

The US should build a cross-country magnetic levitation train that will go coast-to-coast in eight hours or faster. It's got to happen eventually, why not start on it. It would relieve congestion in the airports and keep the air cleaner. Airports are about at their maximum capacity. The mag-lev railroad would probably have to go through Salt Lake.

scuba1415 · #**3502** Posted **Sep 9, 2011, 2:57 PM**

I love the idea about Mag-lev Sight-Seer. I wrote a big report about Mag-Lev a couple years back, and the technology is incredible. It will need to happen one day, but from what I found in my research, it would be wise to hold off for a while until the technologies are more polished. Currently, because it is so new and un-polished, Mag-Lev tracks costs millions and millions of dollars per mile. I don't think it's really affordable right now. Denver has looked into the possibility of a Mag-Lev train, but from what I can tell, has abandoned the idea for the time because of the cost. It will happen one day... I guess we're just waiting for the Chinese and Japanese to get all their long Mag-Lev lines up and running to see just how well it works. Mag-Lev is the real high speed rail.

redzeppelin · #**3503** Posted **Sep 9, 2011, 5:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sight-Seer

The US should build a cross-country magnetic levitation train that will go coast-to-coast in eight hours or faster. It's got to happen eventually, why not start on it. It would relieve congestion in the airports and keep the air cleaner. Airports are about at their maximum capacity. The mag-lev railroad would probably have to go through Salt Lake.

I think that a cross-country mag-lev train would have to be built all at once or not at all. Doing it piecemeal would undoubtedly lead to trouble.

Regarding the congested airport comments, my vision is for seamless integration of air and rail networks. Part of the reason for airport congestion is the consumer demand for high flight frequencies. The airlines can provide the same capacity by running 2 flights a day on large planes, or 5 flights on smaller planes. Consumers have clearly stated a preference for more flight times and therefore more flexibility in travel planning. The added flights mean more air traffic and ground traffic at airports. To me, the solution to reducing airfield congestion is to replace as many of the regional feeder flights as posssible with high-speed rail.

For example, Delta's SLC hub relies on numerous daily cycles of flights to and from smaller cities in the mountain west. I currently reside in Bozeman, MT, and our airport has 4-6 (depending on season) daily Delta Connection flights to SLC. Nearby airports like Billings, Helena, Missoula, Idaho Falls, Great Falls, Cody, Jackson etc. have similar situations. Ultimately, there are a large number of daily flights between SLC and regional cities that could be within 1-4 hours away by high-speed rail service. Airline hubs around the country have nearly identical situations. My vision is for the airports to eventually become intermodal hubs, with high-speed rail connections replacing a lot of the flights currently operated by small regional jets. Imagine if there was a high-speed rail hub at SLC airport. They could have a line going north to Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Butte, Missoula and Kalispell. A branch line would separate at Idaho Falls and go to Rexburg, West Yellowstone, Bozeman, Helena and Great Falls. Another line would leave the airport and go to Evanston, Rock Springs, Cody, and Billings. A third line could go to Twin Falls, Boise, and perhaps as far as Spokane. Other lines could go East, West and South to other cities currently served by regional flights. Pretty quick, the number of daily flights at the airport would be significantly reduced, and what would be left are high-capacity and long-haul flights to major cities, other hubs, and popular destinations that just don't quite fit the rail networks (like Jackson, WY, which doesn't quite fit the rail routes I outlined). Implementing a similar concept at major airports across the country would dramatically improve the situation with regard to airport congestion.

My current flight time to SLC just under 60 minutes. Rail would certainly take a bit longer, but the efficiencies of not needing to arrive as early at the airport and the more comfortable experience of riding a train vs a regional jet would be worth it.

Stenar · #**3504** Posted **Sep 9, 2011, 8:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sight-Seer

The US should build a cross-country magnetic levitation train that will go coast-to-coast in eight hours or faster. It's got to happen eventually, why not start on it. It would relieve congestion in the airports and keep the air cleaner. Airports are about at their maximum capacity. The mag-lev railroad would probably have to go through Salt Lake.

Building a cross-country mag-lev train, rebuilding our infrastructure and installing millions of windmills and solar panels would create a LOT of jobs here AND although expensive, would probably still cost less than the 2 wars created by Bush.

Orlando · #**3505** Posted **Sep 11, 2011, 4:35 AM**

AMEN!!

SLCdude · #**3506** Posted **Sep 12, 2011, 3:22 AM**

AMEN X INFINITY!!!

John Martin · #**3507** Posted **Sep 12, 2011, 5:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stenar

Building a cross-country mag-lev train, rebuilding our infrastructure and installing millions of windmills and solar panels would create a LOT of jobs here AND although expensive, would probably still cost less than the 2 wars created by Bush.

Too late then.

arkhitektor · #**3508** Posted **Sep 13, 2011, 11:01 PM**

UTA Ends FrontRunner Service to Pleasant View:

Quote:

For nearly three years, UTA has provided service to Pleasant View via FrontRunner with four daily trips. Beginning today, the connecting service will be provided by bus, but with more daily trips.

http://www.letsrideuta.com/2011/09/06/pleasant-view-service/

SLCdude · #**3509** Posted **Sep 14, 2011, 12:51 AM**

I agree with ending FrontRunner service to Pleasant View and replacing it with more frequent bus service. As an intern for UTA during the summer, people working at the Warm Springs FrontRunner facility would tell me that extending service to Pleasant View was a big mistake, because they were obligated to provide service despite the extremely low ridership count. UTA employees would even count the number of people getting on and off at Pleasant View Station.

Not only was this the least ridden section of track (by far), but it was very expensive to operate because UTA does not own any track between Ogden and Pleasant view, and must pay Union Pacific to share the track. If UTA extends track to Brigham City, I could see the station re-opening, but It's really not worth sending diesel trains up to a half-built strip-mall to pick up a dozen or so passengers.

Speaking of FrontRunner, Once the "Frontlines 2015" projects are finished. I'd love to see the system become electrified!

s.p.hansen · #**3510** Posted **Sep 16, 2011, 7:02 AM**

It's looming in the background...

Utah Lake bridge proposal closer to state review

SLC Tribune
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/52592795-90/bridge-commission-evaluation-final.html.csp

goldcntry · #**3511** Posted **Sep 16, 2011, 2:58 PM**

Aww man... I may have to break out my really bad bridge render again... I was driving up the west side of the lake a couple of months ago and was trying to explain the proposal to my training officer.

We both agreed that building a bridge would be a boondoggle...

scottharding · #**3512** Posted **Sep 16, 2011, 3:37 PM**

It's a terrible idea. I can't believe it's really being considered.

WASDEN · #**3513** Posted **Sep 16, 2011, 7:45 PM**

They should call it what it really would be- a causeway built on fill NOT a bridge.

farmerboy · #**3514** Posted **Sep 16, 2011, 8:29 PM**

I would think most Utahans would be opposed to such an expensive public investment, that will be benefiting private investors. I don't think the Tea Party in Utah County will be very supportive of this proposal. As if Utah Lake weren't polluted enough.

UTPlanner · #**3515** Posted **Sep 16, 2011, 8:51 PM**

Let me begin by saying that I think the bridge idea is one of the worst I've heard in a long time but I think its important to note that those individuals proposing this bridge are not seeking public investment for the project. What they are currently requesting is permission to cross state property and conduct an environmental assesment.

livedowntown · #**3516** Posted **Sep 17, 2011, 4:39 AM**

I certainly hope that I never see a bridge built across Utah Lake. If it were to happen I would rather see a floating bridge (Lake Washington outside Seattle) before a causeway on fill.

I for one think it an incredible shame that Utah Lake is so poorly regarded. You would think we would be looking for ways to clean up the lake and orient development to take advantage of the lake's beauty not build roads, I mean bridges, over it.

John Martin · #**3517** Posted **Sep 17, 2011, 5:12 AM**

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/52592898-90/buses-distance-downtown-fare.html.csp

Quote:

Downtown free-fare zone may disappear

BY LEE DAVIDSON
The Salt Lake Tribune

First published Sep 15 2011 06:09PM
Updated Sep 16, 2011 10:21AM

The free-fare zone for trains and buses in downtown Salt Lake City may be coming to the end of the line.

Free buses could disappear especially quickly because the Utah Transit Authority is asking the city to support canceling them amid worries about lost revenue and concerns that the free service may attract criminal activity and the homeless trying to keep out of bad weather.

Cancelling free TRAX trains is likely a few years away. UTA hopes to stop them when it makes a planned switch to distance-based fares that would use GPS technology to charge riders for each mile traveled. Short trips of a few blocks downtown would cost only a nominal fee under that system.

That 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵.

arkhitektor · #**3518** Posted **Sep 17, 2011, 2:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Martin

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/52592898-90/buses-distance-downtown-fare.html.csp

That 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵.

I read the article and it seems like the only thing on the table now is free bus service, the free fare zone for TRAX will remain.

scottharding · #**3519** Posted **Sep 17, 2011, 5:02 PM**

Last night I was out with some out-of-town friends, showing the Salt Lake and the downtown nightlife. We had a good time. Then, at about 11:30, we went to the library trax station to catch the train going east to medical center near where I live.
It didn't take long to learn that the Red line stops running service at 11pm. On a Friday. 🞵🞵🞵? I thought it was sad when the University line stopped running after midnight thiry on weekends. But this is 🞵🞵🞵🞵. I was pissed, and embarrassed when I had to explain to my friends that we'd be walking the 10 blocks because Salt Lake apparently goes to bed at 10:30 on weekends. Way to go Trax! Next weekend, we'll be driving everywhere.

SLCdude · #**3520** Posted **Sep 17, 2011, 7:29 PM**

That happened to my friends and I two years ago. We had to walk from Main Street all the way up to the dorms. We were sleepwalking by the time we got to lower campus. It was an awful experience, but looking back, there were some good memories.

I believe the solution here is to give UTA more money! Then we can see transit run later at night as well as the University-Downtown TRAX line. This would do extraordinary things for Salt Lake City's nightlife!

P.S: Bridge over Utah Lake? NOT AGAIN! It's an incentive for sprawl and would combat the efforts to clean up Utah Lake and the Jordan River.