Salt Lake Transit News Thread

[downtownslcresident]

Received the following email today from UTA...thought it was interesting. Do you think this means they're moving forward with the plans for a distance based fare?

Dear Ride Clear Participant

Thanks again for doing your part to improve air quality this summer! UTA is looking for 50 people to test a new prepaid, reloadable card to make paying your UTA fare more convenient. Participants that successfully complete test activities will be entered into a drawing for an iPad and have funds which they loaded onto their cards and used during the test credited back to their test card accounts for future use—up to $150.

In order to participate, you would need to do the following activities:

1. agree to not talk about the test card with anyone outside of your immediate family or acquaintance, or through social media before the product is officially introduced to the public by UTA.
2. purchase a test card for $3 at a location either online or at a specified UTA customer service center (this $3.00 will also be credited to your account at the end of the test).
3. create an account on a test website (we would send a website link to you).
4. use your personal debit or credit card to load money onto the test card—standard fare will apply during the test. (UTA will credit the amount you load to your test card and use during the test period back to your test card account for use on UTA after the test, up to $150)
5. ride UTA services at least three (3) times a week as you normally do for approximately three weeks, likely starting between late August and mid September.
6. pay your fare tapping your test card on electronic readers when you board and exit UTA buses or TRAX and FrontRunner stations.
7. contact UTA Customer service if you experience problems with your card or web account.
8. email us each week with a brief message about your experience with the card and web account.

We have a limited number of test spots. If you would be interested in helping and can perform these test activities, please respond to this email today.

Thanks sincerely!

Utah Transit Authority

[CountyLemonade]

Originally Posted by stayinginformed

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.

Don't forget all the snarky comments that would come to pass if Salt Lake City had a "White Line."

I don't see anything wrong with a Black Line. Although I just Googled it and I can't find any other city in the world with such a color. Hmm.

[John Martin]

Zebra line!!

[justiny]

Many cities have a "Silver" line... Boston, Los Angeles, and DC Metro Rail is finalizing their own silver line phase I by the end of the year.

Red Line to the 'burbs and Silver Line to downtown... Perhaps maybe a "Platinum" line to downtown SLC. Now we're talking class.

[Hatman]

The color choice 'black' for the new line could also be a reference to its operating hours - all night. U of U to the airport is one of the only routes on which UTA can run 24/7, as freight carriers use parts of the blue and red lines during the night. Running the Black Line 24/7 would immediately solve the criticism of not serving the 'red eye' flights UTA has been dealing with since they first announced the airport line's schedule.

[billbillbillbill]

Originally Posted by downtownslcresident

Received the following email today from UTA...thought it was interesting. Do you think this means they're moving forward with the plans for a distance based fare?

Dear Ride Clear Participant

Thanks again for doing your part to improve air quality this summer! UTA is looking for 50 people to test a new prepaid, reloadable card to make paying your UTA fare more convenient. Participants that successfully complete test activities will be entered into a drawing for an iPad and have funds which they loaded onto their cards and used during the test credited back to their test card accounts for future use—up to $150.

In order to participate, you would need to do the following activities:

1. agree to not talk about the test card with anyone outside of your immediate family or acquaintance, or through social media before the product is officially introduced to the public by UTA.
2. purchase a test card for $3 at a location either online or at a specified UTA customer service center (this $3.00 will also be credited to your account at the end of the test).
3. create an account on a test website (we would send a website link to you).
4. use your personal debit or credit card to load money onto the test card—standard fare will apply during the test. (UTA will credit the amount you load to your test card and use during the test period back to your test card account for use on UTA after the test, up to $150)
5. ride UTA services at least three (3) times a week as you normally do for approximately three weeks, likely starting between late August and mid September.
6. pay your fare tapping your test card on electronic readers when you board and exit UTA buses or TRAX and FrontRunner stations.
7. contact UTA Customer service if you experience problems with your card or web account.
8. email us each week with a brief message about your experience with the card and web account.

We have a limited number of test spots. If you would be interested in helping and can perform these test activities, please respond to this email today.

Thanks sincerely!

Utah Transit Authority

I don't think this is as much about distance based fares as much as their version of a fare card. I am an occasional rider of UTA so no monthly pass and I don't have a new smartphone with google wallet nor do any of my banks offer a contactless credit card. When I want to commute, I am stuck looking around the house for cash. I have hoped that they would allow a prepaid card that I could load $30 on and use as needed for trips.

Just curious how it works if I took my wife, could 2 people use the card or would you need two?

[brankrom]

Originally Posted by Hatman

The color choice 'black' for the new line could also be a reference to its operating hours - all night. U of U to the airport is one of the only routes on which UTA can run 24/7, as freight carriers use parts of the blue and red lines during the night. Running the Black Line 24/7 would immediately solve the criticism of not serving the 'red eye' flights UTA has been dealing with since they first announced the airport line's schedule.

Okay I changed my mind... if black indicates 24/7 service than I could support a "black line" as it makes more sense from a marketing perspective.

[DCRes]

Originally Posted by downtownslcresident

In order to participate, you would need to do the following activities:

1. agree to not talk about the test card with anyone outside of your immediate family or acquaintance, or through social media before the product is officially introduced to the public by UTA.

I guess you are ineligable to participate now since you broke rule number 1 already

[tygr]

Originally Posted by brankrom

Okay I changed my mind... if black indicates 24/7 service than I could support a "black line" as it makes more sense from a marketing perspective.

But in classic UTA fashion there will still be no (TRAX, FrontRunner, bus) service on holidays...

Poor travelers who fly in/out of SLC on holidays... what were they thinking?

[TedBell]

Originally Posted by DCRes

I guess you are ineligable to participate now since you broke rule number 1 already

Damnit! I'd love to participate but I guess you can't refer me now.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by stayinginformed

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.

This is exactly right. The "Black" line color designation is deliberate just as the Red line color designation was deliberate.

[slc801]

Originally Posted by billbillbillbill

I don't think this is as much about distance based fares as much as their version of a fare card. I am an occasional rider of UTA so no monthly pass and I don't have a new smartphone with google wallet nor do any of my banks offer a contactless credit card. When I want to commute, I am stuck looking around the house for cash. I have hoped that they would allow a prepaid card that I could load $30 on and use as needed for trips.

Just curious how it works if I took my wife, could 2 people use the card or would you need two?

Looks like you were right: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56795109-90/uta-cards-riders-tap.html.csp

[UTPlanner]

I think one big factor in whether a "black line" goes to Central Station or to the Airport is the availability of TRAX cars. If they have new cars available then they can pick either option but if they only have older cars availalble they will not be able to continue to the Airport due to accessiblity issues for the disabled.

[CountyLemonade]

^ I was actually thinking about that. Honestly, Red Line trains wouldn't need to be three-car consists as they are presently during the middle of the day (four cars during rush hours, two cars at night). A lot of people traveling from the U get off at Courthouse, presumably to transfer to the Blue or Green Line to get to FrontRunner. (Which is a shame, because there are numerous bus routes that these individuals could utilize to get to FrontRunner faster.)

[downtownslcresident]

hahaha, i figured it was okay to post it since they had already released the information on the lets ride uta blog...but i got another email today with the information to get my card, so i will give updates as i play with it more!

also, what do people think about the new variable speed limit signs on I-80 through Parley's?? I have been following this story since I first heard about it in April, because I am a big fan of how Seattle utilizes this technology....but I dont think that it will be quite the same here. Seattle uses it for lane closures and things like that as well to give you a heads up for what is on the road a couple miles up, but I think UDOT will only be using them to vary the speeds....thoughts?

Here is a video of how WSDOT is using it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd0doR0Ga-I

[Hatman]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

I think one big factor in whether a "black line" goes to Central Station or to the Airport is the availability of TRAX cars. If they have new cars available then they can pick either option but if they only have older cars availalble they will not be able to continue to the Airport due to accessiblity issues for the disabled.

While riding Frontrunner with a trax supervisor, he pointed out an old San Jose car ("Ghetto Trax") that they are returning to service for tests. The idea is that two S70's will sandwich one San Jose car, thus solving the accessibility problem. It wasn't clear if that arrangement would be used on the Black Line, Red Line, or just special event trains to the U.

Personally, I think combining the oldest and newest UTA cars into one train will look pretty silly.

[CountyLemonade]

Originally Posted by Hatman

While riding Frontrunner with a trax supervisor, he pointed out an old San Jose car ("Ghetto Trax") that they are returning to service for tests. The idea is that two S70's will sandwich one San Jose car, thus solving the accessibility problem. It wasn't clear if that arrangement would be used on the Black Line, Red Line, or just special event trains to the U.

Personally, I think combining the oldest and newest UTA cars into one train will look pretty silly.

Oh no. Dear deity-of-choice, no. . . The San Jose cars are just positively abhorrent. San Diego does combine SD-100s and S70s into one consist, but SD-100s are nowhere near as bad as the San Jose cars.

If the San Jose cars enable the Black Line to run to the airport, then I'm all for it. Perhaps if the Green Line ends at Central Station, we can just forget about those VTA monstrosities altogether.

[arkhitektor]

I cringe a little everytime I see the FrontRunner consists that they've been running pretty much since the Provo line opened with an old New Jersey car between the locomotive and the newer cars.

[Stenar]

I prefer those older style train cars to ride in. I like the rows and rows all facing one direction. I've ridden those types of trains all over the world. You feel a little more private and enclosed. And you can press your knees up against the seat in front of you, which is cozy (and they're sturdy enough not to bother the person in front of you).

I was disappointed when I saw the interiors of the FrontRunner trains. The seats are hard and uncomfortable, among other things.

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

I cringe a little everytime I see the FrontRunner consists that they've been running pretty much since the Provo line opened with an old New Jersey car between the locomotive and the newer cars.

[Hatman]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

I cringe a little everytime I see the FrontRunner consists that they've been running pretty much since the Provo line opened with an old New Jersey car between the locomotive and the newer cars.

In the same conversation with the Trax supervisor, he mentioned that more comet (old NJ cars) were brought out of storage along with the old San Jose cars. Something about testing 5 car consists on Frontrunner (2 comets + 3 bombardier). He said it is unlikely those trains will go into regular service because the platforms are not built for that kind of consist - but maybe for special event trains? Either way, those comets aren't going away any time soon.