Salt Lake Transit News Thread

[Makid]

I am fairly sure that I mentioned before that there are some in the Legislature that were not happy with BRT being chosen for the PoM. This was their way to get a better reading.

The plan was and I would suspect still is, to get the Blue Line extended to Lehi. With previous agreements to Adobe and now the TI expansion, I suspect that the State prefers an integrated transit option rather than one for multiple transfers.

The Legislature also wants the shift from BRT to LRT to "spur" development at the prison redevelopment area. This extension would be used to "help bridge the gap" with the existing Red line.

From the timelines, we should find out if UDoT feels the same as the Legislature or UTA on the mode choice soon'ish (over the next 6 months or so).

[Atlas]

I'm glad that the BRT idea is being re-examined. That line would have been useless as proposed, imo. Even when the area is built-out, who is going to ride FrontRunner and then transfer to BRT to commute to the Point? You might as well just divert FrontRunner a few hundred feet and add a stop at the center of the site.

I really hope the Blue Line extension to Lehi happens before anything is extended to the Point. Kinda ridiculous that a place where no one lives or works gets priority over gaping holes in the current system. There isn't even a single UTA bus stop in Riverton, for example.

[Paniolo Man]

Utah State University, ASPIRE Engineering Research Center and Stadler partner to advance battery-powered passenger train

Mass Transit | Feb 16 2023

The collaboration between ASPIRE and Stadler is planned to provide a model to demonstrate Stadler’s zero- emission capabilities in real life. While Stadler’s focus is on the design and build of the trainset itself, ASPIRE will focus on charging infrastructure, workforce development and potential impact in Utah. Tests are planned to take place at Stadler’s facility in Salt Lake City.

I am skeptical of battery powered anything larger than a semi truck, but if they can make it work, wonderful. The picture's original file name suggests that this is a render of the battery powered FLIRT on the Heber Valley Railroad.

[Paniolo Man]

I have wanted to see this plan gain traction and I'm glad that it got some attention along side our fine pals of the Rio Grande Plan.

Are trains the solution to Park City’s traffic problem?

KPCW | By Parker Malatesta

Christian Lenhart, the engineer, said the redeveloped Rio Grande could have room for two new rail lines that could run along I-80, east to Park City and west to Tooele.

That’s where Ciraco took it a step further, working with them on a train route up Parley’s Canyon, turning at Kimball Junction, and working its way into Park City.

“Going up Parley’s will not be easy, but if they could do it 100 years ago, I’m sure with our knowledge and improvements in technology, we could figure out a way to do it,” Ciraco said. “Most likely, it would utilize mostly the median space [on I-80].”

He emphasized at the Rotary meeting that the ideas were conceptual and high-level, or as the architect Cameron Blakely called it — "a pie in the sky.”

From Kimball Junction, the train could run down the SR-224 corridor into Park City proper.

Instead of the Old Town Transit Center, they see the main hub in the city as the city-owned land at the intersection of Bonanza Dr. and Kearns Blvd that was previously envisioned as an arts and culture district, as the best spot for a rail station.

From the arts and culture district station, they proposed another train connection running along the Rail Trail through Prospector to Richardson Flat. From there, it could run further into Summit County, servicing Silver Creek Village, Promontory, and eventually Wanship, Hoytsville, and Coalville.

I'd recommend checking out the whole article, it has a lot of great info.

Here are the pictures courtesy of Bill Ciraco via NPR.

Overview of the conceptual line.


Kimball Junction


Arts and Culture District


Along the Rail Trail to Richardson Flat.

Bill's full interview with KPCW.

[RC14]

I didn't realize anyone was actively pushing for this.
Cool!

[rockies]

I am going to be obsessed with this now. Would they need to use cog rail trains to go up Parleys or is the grade on I-80 acceptable for trains?

[Paniolo Man]

Originally Posted by rockies

I am going to be obsessed with this now. Would they need to use cog rail trains to go up Parleys or is the grade on I-80 acceptable for trains?

I'm not sure about the exact grade but I'm sure it could be done without cog trains. Trains pulled by locomotives typically try to avoid grades in excess of 3%. With multiple unit trains like the Stadler FLIRT you can push that number quite a bit. Electrified trains can easily top 7%. You only need to use a cog railway once grade exceeds 10%.

Assume this railway follows Interstate 80 exactly, it would encounter a maximum grade of 6%. It is totally doable, though ideally they would try and keep 3%+ grades to a minimum.


My dream statewide rail system would use Locomotives and bi level coaches for a route from Logan to St. George and Stadler FLIRT dual mode multiple units on a route from Tooele to Heber via Park City and a route from SLC Airport to Moab.

[fidel_cashflo]

An underrated element of this plan is how useful that Sugar House station would be

[RC14]

^ Absolutely, Imagine 15min frequencies and what that would do to travel times between Downtown and Sugarhouse.

Expanding on this pie in the sky idea, what if we had a Frontrunner line serving Morgan county and the Wasatch Back?

This line could start in Brigham City (or, I would prefer Crystal Hot Spring north of Honeyville) and then separate from the main line south of Ogden, following existing right of way through Morgan and Henefer, leave existing ROW at Echo and follow I-80 to US 40 and continue south into Heber. At Heber, the line could utilize the Heber Valley Railroad ROW into Provo Canyon and then could be extended into Orem and Provo. Utah County is where this would get really tricky but perhaps a train box could be created under University Ave or Freedom Blvd. until this line merges with the existing line near Provo station taking it to Payson and Nephi.

This line would probably be very expensive and serve small communities but it would be very scenic, provide access to many Outdoor recreation spots in the Wasatch Back and could become an attraction itself similar to riding the California Zephyr through the Rocky mountains.

This line could feature similar cars with allot of glass for viewing the mountains and shuttle buses could transfer passengers to Snow Basin and Sundance resorts. The line would also directly serve several state parks and reservoirs such as Willard Bay, Echo, possibly Rockport, Jordanelle and Deer Creek and could include a station at Bridal Vail Falls in Provo Canyon.

[Paniolo Man]

I know we have all been talking about this already in the main thread. Figured I'd post the official grant info here.



"Train Box" is now an official, federally accepted term.

[Transit4Utah]

While there is talk of expanding rail infrastructure, here is a sneak peak at something in the works. Eagle eyed transit enthusiasts might recognize what this means. Much more to come soon... shhh...

The time is perfect to create a "Frontlines 2034" initiative, combining the various current (yet unrelated) transit initiatives under study into a single proposal/funding mechanism. For example, The Rio Grande, Frontrunner Doubletrack/Electrification, Point of the Mountain Transit, the Central Corridor Transit in Utah County, The Cottonwood Canyons Project, 4th South Trax/U of U research park branch, S-Line to Brickyard, etc. Use the Olympics as a catalyst for expediting construction, and attaining a large chunk of federal funding.

[Paniolo Man]

Originally Posted by Transit4Utah

While there is talk of expanding rail infrastructure, here is a sneak peak at something in the works. Eagle eyed transit enthusiasts might recognize what this means. Much more to come soon... shhh...

The time is perfect to create a "Frontlines 2034" initiative, combining the various current (yet unrelated) transit initiatives under study into a single proposal/funding mechanism. For example, The Rio Grande, Frontrunner Doubletrack/Electrification, Point of the Mountain Transit, the Central Corridor Transit in Utah County, The Cottonwood Canyons Project, 4th South Trax/U of U research park branch, S-Line to Brickyard, etc. Use the Olympics as a catalyst for expediting construction, and attaining a large chunk of federal funding.

My dream "Frontlines 2034" would include:

• Frontrunner Electrification.
• Frontrunner North and South extensions.
• Logan, Moab, St. George regional service.
• Various TRAX extensions.
• Rio Grande Plan.
• Utah County State Street Light Rail.

I think the easiest sell in the short term would be Moab service. You'd need to build a short stretch of track with station into Moab, convince UP to free up some passing sidings currently used as storage, buy equipment, and operate the whole thing. The legislature could be sold with "lets get those pesky tourists off the road and help Moab's economy!" finishing off with some tourism tax revenue talk.

Now, I know exactly what that image depicts and am very confused/intrigued as to it's origin. At first I was inclined to think it was old, then I saw three little letters that make me believe we may be in for some very exciting news stemming from a prior letdown.

[Hatman]

Originally Posted by paniolo man

i know we have all been talking about this already in the main thread. Figured i'd post the official grant info here.

"train box" is now an official, federally accepted term.

[Hatman]

Originally Posted by Transit4Utah

While there is talk of expanding rail infrastructure, here is a sneak peak at something in the works. Eagle eyed transit enthusiasts might recognize what this means. Much more to come soon... shhh...

I know! I know what it is!

And I must say, it looks absolutely awesome! I can't wait to hear more!

[Atlas]

It looks like a TRAX extension eastward along the median of I-215. Is this something that's officially in the works?

If so, very cool! Makes me wish the cog rail was still under consideration for LCC/BCC.

[RC14]

How interesting. I have to imagine that access to the canyons has to be a consideration here. If not a cog railway, maybe just a connection to the bottom of the planned gondola?

[Paniolo Man]

What caught my eye was the reference to "P.O.M West LRT alignment" UDOT may come through after all.

[rockies]

Originally Posted by RC14

How interesting. I have to imagine that access to the canyons has to be a consideration here. If not a cog railway, maybe just a connection to the bottom of the planned gondola?

I wonder if there would be stations in the center of the freeway or if it would just be a direct connection to the canyon. Why wouldn't they take trax east on denser fort union blvd and end it at the park and ride if it was just a normal extension? I really want it to be cog rail

Could theoretical cog rail essentially run as trax from airport-resort or would there need to be a transfer from trax to cog rail?

[Paniolo Man]

Originally Posted by rockies

I wonder if there would be stations in the center of the freeway or if it would just be a direct connection to the canyon. Why wouldn't they take trax east on denser fort union blvd and end it at the park and ride if it was just a normal extension? I really want it to be cog rail

Could theoretical cog rail essentially run as trax from airport-resort or would there need to be a transfer from trax to cog rail?

I'd love to see that, though honestly I believe it to be unlikely. As it pertains to a transfer, Stadler claimed they could make rolling stock that could complete the entire route without transfers.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by Atlas

It looks like a TRAX extension eastward along the median of I-215. Is this something that's officially in the works?

If so, very cool! Makes me wish the cog rail was still under consideration for LCC/BCC.

No, not I have seen