Salt Lake Transit News Thread

[i-215]

Talked to someone in the news who checked into that wall --- turns out UTA put that new fence up, but it's angled back several feet to give pedestrians a better view of the train.

So I guess I have to retract my complaint against the homeowner. It wasn't his fault after all.

[xseven]

Originally Posted by i-215

Talked to someone in the news who checked into that wall --- turns out UTA put that new fence up, but it's angled back several feet to give pedestrians a better view of the train.

Awesome.

So taxpayers paid for a concrete sound wall, then paid to have it trimmed down, then paid for an equally high wooden fence for the homeowner to conceal his illegally-zoned junkyard...

And all of this came to pass because an impatient teenage girl couldn't wait for the ringing bells and flashing lights to stop before crossing two sets of train tracks?

I know my comment sounds cold, and I'm honestly not trying to be, but does ANY of this make sense?

[i-215]

Yup. That pretty much sums it up.

If it makes you feel any better, the money probably came from the 2006 Transportation Sales Tax --- from some old lady on a fixed income buying groceries.

[joscar]

There's a blog post over on UTA's blog, saying they are working on allowing the public to have access to real-time GPS info for their buses and trains. But they are going to leave it up to a software developer to actually create the end-user app. Anyways when it does happen, it will be nice to know where the next train is at, especially when they are running behind schedule.

[stayinginformed]

That is great news. Hopefully they can do something like what the University of Utah has, where you can choose what routes you want to see in real time. http://www.uofubus.com/

[SLCdude]

What ever happened to the new LED signs that were supposed to be installed at every station? There are none along the Red line East of Courthouse station.

[CountyLemonade]

Another pedestrian has run into a Trax train.

[xseven]

Originally Posted by xseven

I'm calling it right now.

Yet another TRAX vs king moron driver/pedestrian news story in the next 30 days...

Is this a bet worthy of odds?

I wrote this eight days ago...

Eight days.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by xseven

I wrote this eight days ago...

Eight days.

So 12 days into the new year and thats already 2.

[SLC4L]

I was at the Jazz/Lakers game the other night and parked by the Salt Lake Central station so I could take TRAX to the ESA. I was one of the first in the group of people to reach the crosswalk, and as I was standing there behind the yellow line waiting for the walking symbol to appear, everyone just walked right passed me. I looked at the operator and she was making this face like, "C'mon people! Seriously?!" She laid on the horn and this kid standing on the track started frantically debating whether to come back to the platform, or cross the street. It really was ridiculous.

I felt kind of silly though since everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, but me was crossing the street. It was like that psychology experiment when everyone purposefully chooses the wrong answer to see if the subject answers wrongly to fit in.

[Future Mayor]

From what it sounds like, this one was an accident and I feel bad for the guy. I don't feel bad for the idiots who are simply well IDIOTS, but this guy seems to have slipped and been trapped. Depending on where the man slipped and if he struck the wheel chair platform it seems as if the driver may not have fully checked his mirrors before departing.

So I don't know about you, but I am not going to count this as the second one of the year.

[stayinginformed]

A couple of pictures of what will be the TRAX station on top of the North Temple Viaduct.

[xseven]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

So I don't know about you, but I am not going to count this as the second one of the year.

From what I've read and seen, I'll agree with you.

However, I still don't place 100% blame with UTA on this incident.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by i-215

Talked to someone in the news who checked into that wall --- turns out UTA put that new fence up, but it's angled back several feet to give pedestrians a better view of the train.

So I guess I have to retract my complaint against the homeowner. It wasn't his fault after all.

Looks like your friend is right. Drove pass that house today and notice that SAME fence is on other streets as well along the trax line. Still seems pointless to take down the sound wall and then built this fence.

[i-215]

Oh well. Remember the oldest LRT lines in America are only 25 years old. It's similar to where the freeway business in 1955.

I can only imagine in another 50 years, UTA and its peers will be as polished and slick as Caltrans or UDOT. But in the meanwhile, we get goofy non-standard walls, etc.

[chad.farnes]

Amazing news!!!!

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/53317827-90/county-utah-frontrunner-provo.html.csp

"FrontRunner to arrive in Provo in December

Utah County is on track for a big year, transportation-wise: FrontRunner to Provo will start up and Interstate 15 reconstruction will wind down.

“In 2012, we hope to see I-15 completed. No, we will see I-15 completed,” County Commission Chairman Larry Ellertson vowed Tuesday during the State of the County presentation. “We will see FrontRunner South constructed, and it will arrive on Dec. 9.”

Gerry Carpenter, Utah Transit Authority spokesman, said the authority hasn’t formally announced a completion date yet for the Provo route. He said it is contingent on UTA renegotiating its agreement with the county.

When Utah County raised its sales taxes a quarter percent to finance FrontRunner South in 2006, UTA allowed the county to borrow some of the future revenue — $55 million to $60 million — to complete some road projects.

With sales tax revenue slipping, Carpenter said UTA is seeking an early repayment of the loan so it can complete the rail project.

Carpenter said the new agreement will be discussed at next week’s UTA board meeting, adding that the County Commission has been “supportive” of the agency’s plan."


From what I can tell, the December 9th is not an official date because they have to get it approved from the board. However, at next weeks meeting they are going to try to push that it gets completed by Dec 9th. From the article, it seems like this may actually happen.

I am SO happy for this. Hopefully after December 9th, I will never have to take another 2 1/2 hour TRAX/bus ride to Provo.

[CountyLemonade]

Originally Posted by chad.farnes

I am SO happy for this. Hopefully after December 9th, I will never have to take another 2 1/2 hour TRAX/bus ride to Provo.

My sentiments exactly.

[UTAZLoVer]

Can't wait to do an Ogden to Provo trip and check out Downtown Provo. Hopefully some Provoans feel the same and want to explore Ogden

[skyguy414]

Well, we are one step closer:

Salt Lake City airport overhaul finally taking flight
The Salt Lake Tribune
By brandon loomis
First published 4 hours ago
Updated 39 minutes ago Updated Jan 17, 2012 10:16PM

Salt Lake City is throttling up the jets on its long-delayed airport reconstruction plan, plotting a $1.8 billion makeover to break ground next year with freshly secured airline support.

Mayor Ralph Becker on Tuesday night announced that the city had reached accord with Delta and the other airlines over the last month — a crucial step because the carriers would pay hundreds of millions of dollars toward the project — and said design work should begin this summer.

A new airport with striking views of the mountains and a window to the future as a major hub would "express our ascendancy" as a city, Becker said in his State of the City address.

See rest of article: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home2/53317416-183/airport-terminal-concourse-lake.html.csp

[Future Mayor]

The more I look at it, it's starting to grow on me.