Salt Lake Transit News Thread - Page 239

Makid · #**4761** Posted **Jan 17, 2013, 8:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tygr

In regards to UTA:

Now that FrontLines2015 is basically complete (except for current construction/testing of Sugarhouse, Draper and Airport lines (all opening within about a year)...

WHAT IS NEXT? What is FrontLines2030?

Is Ogden going to get the streetcars they've been pining for?
Is Orem/Provo actually going to get BRT between their respective stations down University Parkway/Avenue?
Will TRAX creep up into Bountiful... down to Lehi?
Where will the next FrontRunner extension be? Payson? Tooele? Brigham City?

When will all of this happen?

UTA created a great list of ambitions and projections... but now 95% of that list is nearly complete. When will they announce their next list?

I feel the next updates will be more BRT lines around the valley
Light Rail down 5600 West from the Airport
Streetcars going up to Centerville if not Farmington
Trax extending to Lehi
FrontRunner to Brigham City
Streetcars around downtown
4th South Trax Extension to Hub
Trax to the canyons if not directly to Snowbird.

I see the above happening in the next 30 years and probably some in the next 10 years.

In the next 30 to 50 years
We may also see 3500 S. BRT converting to Trax
BRT/Streetcar/LightRail down Redwood Road, 7th East, Highland and would love it down Bangerter as well.

Sight-Seer · #**4762** Posted **Jan 17, 2013, 8:37 PM**

I just saw a TRAX train run a red light right in front of me and zoom through the intersection at 9th South when my light was green. It was pretty scary. It was an amazing thing to see considering UTA's safety problems. It was dangerous because my eyes said, "The light's green. It's okay to go." And my brain was saying, "Hey wait! There's a train going through the intersection at a pretty high speed."

SLC Projects · #**4763** Posted **Jan 17, 2013, 8:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sight-Seer

I just saw a TRAX train run a red light right in front of me and zoom through the intersection at 9th South when my light was green. It was pretty scary. It was an amazing thing to see considering UTA's safety problems. It was dangerous because my eyes said, "The light's green. It's okay to go." And my brain was saying, "Hey wait! There's a train going through the intersection at a pretty high speed."

DId the train have a number? Should report him or her.

UTPlanner · #**4764** Posted **Jan 17, 2013, 10:58 PM**

You don't need the train number to report them. If you know the location, direction and approximate time of the incident UTA can look at the schedule and know which train and driver it would be.

StevenF · #**4765** Posted **Jan 17, 2013, 11:07 PM**

I would imagine the camera's on the trains would also help identify the offender.

ctobsl · #**4766** Posted **Jan 18, 2013, 4:25 AM**

You should report the incident.
Maybe there is a problem with the train traffic signals and vehicle traffic signals not working like they should be.

Sight-Seer · #**4767** Posted **Jan 18, 2013, 2:22 PM**

I don't think it was scheduled. It was about 5 minutes after another train that did stop at the intersection. Maybe it was a trainee. With the new lines opening up there are probably many of them. Would a trainee be running a train with 3 or 4 cars? It was about 12:15 pm.

Makid · #**4768** Posted **Jan 18, 2013, 3:33 PM**

3 cars sounds like it would have been a train from the Jordan extension.

Trainees would generally have someone else with them in the cab watching them. If it was a trainee, they would be removed from the program.

I would recommend reporting it at a minimum as it really shouldn't happen.

jmonkey · #**4769** Posted **Jan 18, 2013, 3:55 PM**

Frontlines 2030 should be focused solely on operating what has now been built. We'll never get anywhere if UTA must continue to raise fares, and continue to operate with stingy state support. Every time they expand service in any particular area, they decrease it elsewhere. We have a terrific built mass-transit system, but it operates for business commuters and no one else. How can we get cars off the road if people can't afford to ride, and can't rely on the system to fit into their schedule? Reports of massive executive over-compensation are certainly not encouraging either. UTA needs to work better before it expands again.

ajiuO · #**4770** Posted **Jan 18, 2013, 4:31 PM**

Uta should sale a monthly pass for trax only (no buses) for like 40$.. I'd buy it. 78 is just not worth it to me.. Plus I will never ride a uta bus again.. Long story.

tygr · #**4771** Posted **Jan 18, 2013, 4:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmonkey

We have a terrific built mass-transit system, but it operates for business commuters and no one else. How can we get cars off the road if people can't afford to ride, and can't rely on the system to fit into their schedule?

Well said, jmonkey!!

As much as an extension here or there would be nice, it would be much nicer if UTA would convince me to use their system because I won't have to wait over an hour to catch a train that is over packed. My family's first trip on FrontRunner was a nightmare.

UTA's demonstrated mindset is, "Gee, ridership is down... let's cut service and raise rates." The overpaid geniuses there need to go back and re-learn basics in supply and demand as well as cost and benefit.

Future Mayor · #**4772** Posted **Jan 18, 2013, 4:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tygr

Well said, jmonkey!!

As much as an extension here or there would be nice, it would be much nicer if UTA would convince me to use their system because I won't have to wait over an hour to catch a train that is over packed. My family's first trip on FrontRunner was a nightmare.

Let me guess, you rode it with your family on the free ride day. You can't judge FrontRunner by that.

tygr · #**4773** Posted **Jan 18, 2013, 4:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

Let me guess, you rode it with your family on the free ride day. You can't judge FrontRunner by that.

No! It was not "free ride day." I have more sense than that.

It was a Saturday evening.

DMTower · #**4774** Posted **Jan 18, 2013, 4:58 PM**

I think UTA should shift their focus from extensions to suburbs and work on filling in the system in denser areas, as well as improving existing service. Finish the downtown loop and add streetcar lines downtown. There are probably a number of people right downtown that don't use Trax as their primary mode of transportation because the stops are too many blocks from where they live or work.

Future Mayor · #**4775** Posted **Jan 18, 2013, 5:14 PM**

I think UTA should focus on partnering with developers and cities to develop high density around each Front Runner and Trax station. Doing that will boast ridership and increase the money coming into the overall system, resulting in less tax payer money subsidizing the system. It will never be a subsidy free system, but adding capacity on rail lines is much more cost effective than adding capacity on bus lines or adding more lines.

As for the Payson extenstion, that will be built when the new express bus service from Payson, to Spanish Fork to Provo FrontRunner, shows the demand for the cost of the extention.

scottharding · #**4776** Posted **Jan 18, 2013, 5:59 PM**

I have to agree that it seems the people managing UTA are doing a very poor job. So much of what they plan/schedule/cancel/reroute are very counter productive, and in some cases, seem to defeat their own purposes somewhat, like this:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/55643124-90/trax-airport-uta-train.html.csp

Looks like I'll still be driving to the airport. Bummer. I'm sure balancing a budget it very difficult, but it's been noted here several times that the Salt Lake Metro has one the most accessible transit systems in the country. A majority of the population is close enough to a transit stop to use it if it becomes a good alternative to driving. UTA also gets very strong support from the local government, and some from the federal as well. Yet with these things in it's favor, they can't manage the system well enough to make it... well, practical? It stinks of poor decision making to me.

CountyLemonade · #**4777** Posted **Jan 19, 2013, 12:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajiuO

Plus I will never ride a uta bus again.. Long story.

That's unfortunate. I ride the bus every day and it is a mostly wonderful experience. Try it again sometime.

I'm also in support of taking twenty- or thirty-year moratorium on rail line construction. Don't get me wrong. I love what our rail system has become. But it has come at the expense of bus service, something I cannot support happening.

Stenar · #**4778** Posted **Jan 19, 2013, 12:13 AM**

It was still in the first month or so of operation. You need to cut them some slack and go back in 6 months when the novelty has worn off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tygr

No! It was not "free ride day." I have more sense than that.

It was a Saturday evening.

RC14 · #**4779** Posted **Jan 19, 2013, 2:21 AM**

^
I just heard on the radio that UTA is going to take public input and try to fix the schedule. I guess there have been alot of complaints about late trains and people missing buses because of them. UTA says the current schedule is too tight.

scottharding · #**4780** Posted **Jan 19, 2013, 2:44 AM**

I also agree that UTA should take a little time off building new lines and focus a bit on improving the current system. It's been quite a shock to the community opening so many lines in succession. I don't think the break should be twenty years though. I think a good 2-3 years to focus only only the current system, implementing a distance-based fare, and planning would do a lot of good.