Salt Lake:Official development news thread - Part 2 - Page 398

PlattParker · #**7941** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 6:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilljemalm

Until recently, I was a long time Denver area resident. The joke about the airport is, "Nice airport. To bad it's in a different state." DIA is not very convenient to the rest of the metro area. It's "way out" east, so much so that it's easy to guarantee that SLC's light rail ride from the airport to downtown will be much faster than Denver's train ride from DIA to downtown. The current plan is for commuter rail on that line, but it is a bit down the list of lines to be built. The light rail line to Golden is next, followed by a commuter line to Boulder. They keep getting delayed, however, by cost overruns (land prices shot up when the lines were announced) and NIMBY's.

As a side note, I pass through SLC's airport frequently. I agree with it needing to be replaced. I always feel cramped and crowded in it, although I find it easy to meet my connections there. Only two other airports give me the same cramped feeling - LaGuardia and Reagan National.

The East Rail Line to DIA is already under construction. It will be completed in 2016.

http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/ec_1

PLANSIT · #**7942** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 6:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilljemalm

Until recently, I was a long time Denver area resident. The joke about the airport is, "Nice airport. To bad it's in a different state." DIA is not very convenient to the rest of the metro area. It's "way out" east, so much so that it's easy to guarantee that SLC's light rail ride from the airport to downtown will be much faster than Denver's train ride from DIA to downtown. The current plan is for commuter rail on that line, but it is a bit down the list of lines to be built. The light rail line to Golden is next, followed by a commuter line to Boulder. They keep getting delayed, however, by cost overruns (land prices shot up when the lines were announced) and NIMBY's.

As a side note, I pass through SLC's airport frequently. I agree with it needing to be replaced. I always feel cramped and crowded in it, although I find it easy to meet my connections there. Only two other airports give me the same cramped feeling - LaGuardia and Reagan National.

Um, it started construction this year. The line to Boulder isn't fully funded.

skyguy414 · #**7943** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 7:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

You think maybe we might see some of these renderings......next April?

I don't know when they will release it publicly. I don't feel comfortable just uploading the documents myself because it might be proprietary information. I will try and see if I can get some word on if this can be distributed or not.

If anyone is bored and interested in looking at one of the really old master plans from the early 90's (even before the master plan depicting the photos from earlier), go here: http://www.slcairport.com/cmsdocuments/newairportmasterplan.pdf

Kindof interesting to compare it to what is actually planned. The old master plan is messy. I am glad they are doing a much more organized and streamlined plan instead.

delts145 · #**7944** Posted **Oct 15, 2011, 12:14 PM**

World Trade Center Utah: Connecting international business at the crossroads of the West

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/70539...iness-at-the-crossroads-of-the-West.html

By Adam Wooten, For The Deseret News

“The California State Legislature is the greatest economic developer Utah could ever hope for,” quips Lew Cramer, founding president and CEO of the World Trade Center Utah.

As California’s government increases taxes and regulations, companies in Silicon Valley and the rest of the Golden State are increasingly looking to move to the business-friendly Silicon Slopes of Utah...

...The state has recently won many accolades in this area, including Best State for Business (Forbes, 2010), No. 1 for Best Business Climate (Business Facilities, 2011) and No. 2 Pro-Business State (Pollina Corporate, 2010)...

...For example, IM Flash Technologies, a joint venture between Intel and Micron Technology, choose to base its manufacturing in Lehi, Utah. In five years, the company’s flash memory market share has risen from zero to 15 percent, making its exports the majority of Utah’s nearly $2 billion in computer and electronics exports.

“Utah is the only state to double exports in the last five years, and we’ll double them again in the next five,” says Cramer...

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delts145 · #**7945** Posted **Oct 16, 2011, 10:29 AM**

SLC to roll out pilot test of new solar-powered parking stations

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/70539...-new-solar-powered-parking-stations.html

By Ami Joi O'Donoghue, For The Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — With an optional swipe of a credit or debit card, downtown visitors can test the efficiency and likability of 50 new solar-powered parking stations being rolled out Monday for six weeks as part of a test phase.

The city wants to see how well these state-of-the-art stations are received and if they ultimately accomplish the objective of making it easier to park downtown to shop, dine or conduct business...

Mayor Ralph Becker tries out a new high-tech, solar powered parking pay station in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011. The city will start testing the new parking meters in a pilot program on Monday, Oct. 18th. They will accept multiple forms of payment. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)

SLC Projects · #**7946** Posted **Oct 16, 2011, 1:55 PM**

Downtown should have free parking. I hate parking meters.

TonyAnderson · #**7947** Posted **Oct 16, 2011, 2:12 PM**

Becker may want a new tailor.

Stenar · #**7948** Posted **Oct 16, 2011, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

Becker may want a new tailor.

The lens the photographer used is distorting that image. He's not really wearing a jacket made for William Howard Taft.

Neuroguy · #**7949** Posted **Oct 16, 2011, 9:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stenar

The lens the photographer used is distorting that image. He's not really wearing a jacket made for William Howard Taft.

Orlando · #**7950** Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 5:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by delts145

SLC to roll out pilot test of new solar-powered parking stations

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/70539...-new-solar-powered-parking-stations.html

By Ami Joi O'Donoghue, For The Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — With an optional swipe of a credit or debit card, downtown visitors can test the efficiency and likability of 50 new solar-powered parking stations being rolled out Monday for six weeks as part of a test phase.

The city wants to see how well these state-of-the-art stations are received and if they ultimately accomplish the objective of making it easier to park downtown to shop, dine or conduct business...

Mayor Ralph Becker tries out a new high-tech, solar powered parking pay station in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011. The city will start testing the new parking meters in a pilot program on Monday, Oct. 18th. They will accept multiple forms of payment. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)

We have these all over the place here in Portland. I like them because you can use a debit or credit card instead of change. Who has change all the time nowadays?

skierforlife17 · #**7951** Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 7:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by delts145

SLC to roll out pilot test of new solar-powered parking stations

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/70539...-new-solar-powered-parking-stations.html

By Ami Joi O'Donoghue, For The Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — With an optional swipe of a credit or debit card, downtown visitors can test the efficiency and likability of 50 new solar-powered parking stations being rolled out Monday for six weeks as part of a test phase.

The city wants to see how well these state-of-the-art stations are received and if they ultimately accomplish the objective of making it easier to park downtown to shop, dine or conduct business...

Mayor Ralph Becker tries out a new high-tech, solar powered parking pay station in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011. The city will start testing the new parking meters in a pilot program on Monday, Oct. 18th. They will accept multiple forms of payment. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)

We have been using something similar in park city for years. They work well, I hope they introduce the charge passes, where you can minutes and display a little machine in your window instead of buying tickets if you park downtown a lot.

jedikermit · #**7952** Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 11:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stenar

The lens the photographer used is distorting that image. He's not really wearing a jacket made for William Howard Taft.

Ha! I was more afraid that his head had somehow shrunk. Politics will do that.

RC14 · #**7953** Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 2:49 PM**

I just think it's funny that of all the places they could have taken that picture, they appear to be standing in front of Firestone tires.

livedowntown · #**7954** Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 3:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Downtown should have free parking. I hate parking meters.

I have to disagree. Parking should never feel like a right. It is a luxury and should be payed for. You are welcome to ride Trax downtown and you don't need to pay for parking. Beyond that, parking meters keep stalls open and more available parking at any one time. These pay stations just make it way more convenient. I am surprised, however, at how distracting they are when you drive down the street. I know they are suppose to be visible but they seem garish. Maybe they are just new so I kept noticing them.

I believe the mayor has been bulking up. Maybe we have a steroid scandal looming.

SLC Projects · #**7955** Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 5:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by livedowntown

I have to disagree. Parking should never feel like a right. It is a luxury and should be payed for. You are welcome to ride Trax downtown and you don't need to pay for parking. Beyond that, parking meters keep stalls open and more available parking at any one time. These pay stations just make it way more convenient. I am surprised, however, at how distracting they are when you drive down the street. I know they are suppose to be visible but they seem garish. Maybe they are just new so I kept noticing them.

I believe the mayor has been bulking up. Maybe we have a steroid scandal looming.

Parking meters are not going to keep people out of their cars. If anything it keeps people from going downtown. Downtown should be a welcoming place. Theres nothing more annoying then to go to a downtown event and seeing all those parking lots asking $10 $15 per car to park on their lots. These greedy land owners have no reason to ask people to pay THAT much. Then theres those meter maids who go out LOOKING to write you up for somthing. And now trax will soon no longer offer the free zone downtown. Yea.....welcome to downtown where we are going to try to take as much money out of your pockets as we can.

farmerboy · #**7956** Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 7:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Parking meters are not going to keep people out of their cars. If anything it keeps people from going downtown. Downtown should be a welcoming place. Theres nothing more annoying then to go to a downtown event and seeing all those parking lots asking $10 $15 per car to park on their lots. These greedy land owners have no reason to ask people to pay THAT much. Then theres those meter maids who go out LOOKING to write you up for somthing. And now trax will soon no longer offer the free zone downtown. Yea.....welcome to downtown where we are going to try to take as much money out of your pockets as we can.

I don't think the point is necessarily to keep people out of their cars, but to provide incentive to use public transit, as well as provide an additional source of income for the city. The idea that every city should provide enough free parking in their downtowns so that every person who wants to can drive and park right next to their destination is not only impractical, but impossible.

With that said I do think SLC is positioned in a very advantageous position when it comes to providing parking downtown. With our wide streets and medians like the one on 300 south seen throughout the city, we could provide a great amount of metered parking to meet demand. It's also an exciting thought that this metered parking could go toward funding additional parking medians throughout the city.

billbillbillbill · #**7957** Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 7:34 PM**

I actually really like these electronic meters. I rarely have coins laying around so it makes it easy to pay and stick the receipt on the car. I do think the solar thing is a gimmick. Curious how much more the city has to pay to have a little solar panel on the top versus more of a standard payment kiosk.

T-Mac · #**7958** Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 7:47 PM**

I actually prefer to park at the Regent Street parking terrace. $1 per hour. Hard to beat that anywhere downtown.

s.p.hansen · #**7959** Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 9:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Mac

I actually prefer to park at the Regent Street parking terrace. $1 per hour. Hard to beat that anywhere downtown.

If you don't mind riding TRAX through the free fare zone, you can just park down by the intermodel hub FOR FREE. I park across the street from where the last TRAX stop is located; that particular location has UTA police watching from the other side of the road and lots of lighting when it gets dark. You can even leave the car there over night (I have a nice car and have done this a few times).

T-Mac · #**7960** Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 9:40 PM**

Great info, S.P. I think I will try that next time I go down there.