Salt Lake Transit News Thread

[downtownslcresident]

Any news yet on the revival of the university-downtown line?

[Orlando]

FYI



Notice of Public Meeting on Wasatch Front Regional Council’s Planning Process



There will be an opportunity for you to talk directly with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in an open public meeting concerning your views on the transportation planning process conducted in the Wasatch Front Regional Council planning area. The meeting is scheduled for:



Time: 4:00 to 6:00 PM

Date: Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Place: Salt Lake City Public Library

210 East 400 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Conference Room #4



This public meeting is a part of a review that will assess compliance with Federal regulations pertaining to the transportation planning process conducted by the Wasatch Front Regional Council Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Utah Department of Transportation, the Utah Transit Authority, and local units of government in Salt Lake, Davis, and Weber Counties.



If you are not able to attend this meeting, please address your comments to:



Federal Highway Administration, Utah Division

Attn: Steve Call

2520 West 4700 South, Suite 9A

Salt Lake City, UT 84118

Phone # 801 955-3513



Or



Federal Transit Administration, Region VIII

Attn: Kristin Kenyon

12300 W. Dakota Ave., Suite 310

Lakewood, CO 80228

Phone # 720 963-3319

[Cirrus]

Congrats SLC on your new light rail extension.

Originally Posted by FTA press release

U.S. Transportation Secretary Foxx Celebrates Opening of Draper Light Rail Line in Utah

http://www.fta.dot.gov/newsroom/12286_15538.html

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today attended the grand opening of the new Draper TRAX light rail line.

The project includes three new stations with park-and-ride-facilities. The TRAX extension to Draper is the final project in UTA’s Frontlines 2015 Program, a $2.9 billion program to build 70 miles of rail in seven years. Four new light rail lines and one new commuter rail line have more than doubled UTA’s rail system.

[CountyLemonade]

1999 — Sandy
2001 — University (Stadium)
2003 — University (Medical Center)
2008 — Ogden commuter rail
2008 — Central Station
2011 — Daybreak
2011 — West Valley
2012 — Provo commuter rail
2013 — Airport
2013 — Draper

Just thought I'd put things in perspective. Most Salt Lakers don't realize just how phenomenally good we have it here.

[justiny]

I agree.

You guys on the Wasatch Front have a real transit map that is comparable to most major U.S. cities... When I was going to college at the U. we only had the "Sandy to Salt Lake" line. I had to transfer to a bus at 2nd South by the Hotel Monaco to get to class.

Since I've moved away, I've been jealous that I have missed out on all the development and progress.

If anyone remembers the original 1999 "Sandy to Salt Lake" map, compare it to the image below... Very impressive in under 14 years.



From Wikipedia/Wikimedia Author CL

[Makid]

Any updates to the studies being released? SL Streetcar, State St BRT, etc?

[Boz]

Not sure if it has been posted--but since last Thursday traffic lights have been installed at the Streetcar crossing on State.

[jtrent77]

UDOT plans construction project for point of the mountain
Those traveling on I-15 in Utah County have enjoyed several months of construction-free driving since the I-15 project was completed in December, but now UDOT is planning another multi-year construction project that will widen and replace pavement from SR 92 in the Utah County to 12300 South in Salt Lake County.

[CountyLemonade]

^ So, they'll just leave the section between SR-92 and Lehi Main Street untouched? That section of I-15 is actually older than the section through Point of the Mountain. In any event, if they're gonna tear up that much freeway they might as well get the entire job done. Hmm.

FrontRunner will be nice when the cones come up.

[Reachforthesky]

Oh you guys beat me to it! Well anyway here's the KUTV story you can watch if you'd like.
http://www.kutv.com/news/top-stories/sto...574b000007%22%2C%22pt%22%3A%22wall%22%7D


12 lanes total this will really help the congestion in this area. Im hoping it gets the full high mast lighting treatment also. I was thinking the same thing CountyLemonade, aparently the state didn't have the money to go all the way to 2100 N. in Lehi but plans replace that section when they get additional funds.

[stayinginformed]

Tonight at my community council meeting, a UTA official came to get input. After the meeting, I went up to him and broached the subject of a direct connection between the University and downtown. He said it is in the works, it will be called the BLACK LINE and there are two different camps, one that wants it going to central station, and one to have it go to the airport. I would like it to run to the airport. He said it would run every 15 minutes, so there would be a train every seven minutes along North Temple with the green and black lines, and to the university every 7 minutes between the red and black line running every 15 minutes.

[tygr]

Originally Posted by stayinginformed

Tonight at my community council meeting, a UTA official came to get input. After the meeting, I went up to him and broached the subject of a direct connection between the University and downtown. He said it is in the works, it will be called the BLACK LINE and there are two different camps, one that wants it going to central station, and one to have it go to the airport. I would like it to run to the airport. He said it would run every 15 minutes, so there would be a train every seven minutes along North Temple with the green and black lines, and to the university every 7 minutes between the red and black line running every 15 minutes.

Nice info stayinginformed.

FWIW: I favor the Airport/UofU option 10x over the Central Station/UofU line. The benefit to both is they connect directly with FrontRunner. Increasing frequency to the airport and UofU is a WIN/WIN.

When I take FrontRunner I prefer disembarking at North Temple over Central Station anytime. In my opinion, it's more convenient to downtown with less stops to get there.

[youngatheist]

That's awesome, would definitely prefer the airport/u of u route too. Did he gave you any indication as to when we can see the black line?

[stayinginformed]

Originally Posted by youngatheist

That's awesome, would definitely prefer the airport/u of u route too. Did he gave you any indication as to when we can see the black line?

He didn't give any indication of when it would happen. This line will also mean that there will be a TRAX train downtown between Arena and Gallivan Stations every 5 minutes.

[Future Mayor]

It still pisses me off that the 600 W trax alignment wasn't used rather than the 400 W alignment. The reason it didn't go on 600 W was that the home owners along 600 W said they didn't want a fly over bridge to "ruin" their neighborhood. Their little neighborhood of 8 homes, that are now mostly being demolished to build a new apartment building.

The 400 W alignment completely negated Central Station as a main hub, at least until the downtown street car and a possibly downtown loop on 400 S are built, or a line extension from the main line at 200 W and 9th, 8th or 7th South is built that serves the Granary District.

[CountyLemonade]

BLACK LINE TO THE AIRPORT FOREVER. For reasons previously stated.

[Stenar]

This still pisses me off, too.

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

It still pisses me off that the 600 W trax alignment wasn't used rather than the 400 W alignment. The reason it didn't go on 600 W was that the home owners along 600 W said they didn't want a fly over bridge to "ruin" their neighborhood. Their little neighborhood of 8 homes, that are now mostly being demolished to build a new apartment building.

The 400 W alignment completely negated Central Station as a main hub, at least until the downtown street car and a possibly downtown loop on 400 S are built, or a line extension from the main line at 200 W and 9th, 8th or 7th South is built that serves the Granary District.

[Deek1978]

My Opinion on the addition freeway lanes:

Dropping two lanes at Lehi Main Street is extremely troublesome, and I dislike having to travel the P.O.M. (Point of the Mountain) part of the freeway because of it. I like that the freeway will be widened, and I have a theory on why they won't be widening Lehi Main to S.R. 92.

The state just forked out a lot of dough on the CORE project as well as the Mountain View Corridor. The whole point of the M.V.C. is to receive federal funding to build a new freeway. (515, or 280, or whatever they'll call it)
When the new freeway is built there will have to be a significant rebuild needed at the interchange between I-15 and the new freeway, this is when they will widen that last stretch of freeway before S.R. 92.

I have no inside knowledge of this, but I see it as leverage, and why build it if they will have to rebuild it in 5-10 years?

[brankrom]

Good news on the airport to UU Trax line. It is, or rather should be a no brainer but the "black line" name and color designation is stupid. Gray, White, Pink, Silver... anything but black.

[stayinginformed]

Originally Posted by brankrom

Good news on the airport to UU Trax line. It is, or rather should be a no brainer but the "black line" name and color designation is stupid. Gray, White, Pink, Silver... anything but black.

I think the black line is a nod to the university--with the university colors being red, white, and black. White wouldn't show up well on their maps with a white background.