Salt Lake Transit News Thread

[Makid]

I have a few thoughts on the redo of the Study.

1st, they wanted to keep the idea of FrontRunner being a regional service so they wanted to drop some of the infill stations which would slow the travel times.

2nd, everyone wants FrontRunner electrified, it is pointless to include portions that are electrified and portions that aren't. As well as discussing a double track option that still relies on diesel engines.

3rd, with the new power of UTA being partially a State agency, it does qualify for additional eminent domain powers which can make many of the trouble sections less troublesome for double tracking. This would make it easier to do a full double track option even if the directional tracks aren't directly adjacent to each other.

4th, with the recently added Sales Tax in both SL County and Utah County, a study showing a Double Tracked and Electrified FrontRunner that has ridership of 90K or more would justify the State directing some of the funds from the Sales Tax increase from Roads to FrontRunner. Additionally, it would also justify the use of State Funds to help speed up the project.

5th, with the use of State Funds to help speed up the project, extensions to Brigham City and Payson could be justified. Trips beyond Ogden and Provo could be limited to hourly or every 30 minutes as opposed to the planned 15 minute frequencies between Ogden and Provo.

6th, they may want to include possible East/West options to include Tooele and Park City (routing to be determined by the study). This is a guess only because there is really only 1 way between both locations and Salt Lake City and both communities are growing quickly causing increased traffic along I-80.

Realistically, it could be for any of these thoughts if not multiple ones. As the base of the study has been completed, I don't think it should take 2 years to complete, unless they are including an East/West option which hasn't yet been officially studied.