Salt Lake Transit News Thread - Page 147

s.p.hansen · #**2921** Posted **Apr 6, 2011, 1:02 AM**

Cell carriers to roll out payment program in Utah

Associated Press
By Brian Skoloff

Quote:

A joint venture between three of the four largest wireless cell phone carriers will soon bring a mobile payment program to Utah's public transportation system.

The move marks the first commercially available mobile fare payment offering in the United States.

Isis, a mobile commerce joint venture between AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, announced Tuesday it will roll out the pilot program in Salt Lake City in 2012, offering an alternative to credit and debit cards for Utah Transit Authority fare payments.

The program is also set to work for point-of-sale purchases at retailers in the area.

AT&T's Mark Siegel says the companies expect the program to eventually be used nationwide, much like how text messaging became wildly popular once cell phone companies began allowing messaging between different carriers

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=15026995

strippadam · #**2922** Posted **Apr 6, 2011, 11:26 PM**

I desperately want frontrunner to come into Logan. I believe it would be a much more worth while investment for the valley than building a larger airport.

TonyAnderson · #**2923** Posted **Apr 7, 2011, 8:14 AM**

First of all - your first post in 3 years? Welcome back.

Now, where would Frontrunner come in? Sardine Canyon or around through the Tremonton area? Either way it doesn't seem like there's a lot of demand for it right now, but I agree it would be cool, especially during winter weather. Who would use it though? If you live in Cache Valley, 99% of the time you're going to work there - and that's a good thing.

Future Mayor · #**2924** Posted **Apr 7, 2011, 6:06 PM**

I actually have to disagree that FrontRunner would be better for Logan than an expanded airport. FrontRunner would provide and opportunity for people to live in Logan but work in Ogden or SLC, some may reverse commute to Logan, but I would venture to estimate that the number leaving Logan for work would greatly out number those coming to work.

An airport on the other hand would give businesses the opportunity to have easier access to commercial air service providing opportunities to bring clients in or fly out to visit clients. An airport would be a much larger economic generator for Logan city than a FrontRunner extension. IMO

WASDEN · #**2925** Posted **Apr 7, 2011, 6:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by strippadam

I desperately want frontrunner to come into Logan. I believe it would be a much more worth while investment for the valley than building a larger airport.

Hehe I used to daydream a lot about Frontrunner to Logan when I lived there. I was always surprised by the number of Cache Valley residents who did commute out of the valley, I think mostly to the Ogden area but I couldn't say for sure. Whether or not Frontrunner could get them to their destinations is debatable. I would have loved it as a USU student coming home to SLC now and then. Often we would have to pick up university dignitaries and guests at SLC international or have them take a shuttle to Cache Valley as there just was no other way.

I doubt any rail line would be constructed through Sardine Canyon- its a twisty sucker with lots of elevation changes meaning lots of $$$ to build, not to mention the land acquisition, unfortunate too because its the most direct route to Brigham City and the rest of the Wasatch Front. If money were no object I'd build a tunnel through it

I would guess any rail line built by UTA would comply with their habit of using pre established rail corridors- meaning an indirect route through the Tremonton area. Not the fastest but far more affordable. I wouldn't hold my breath for such a Frontrunner extension.. a better airport option will probably come on line way before then.

SLCdude · #**2926** Posted **Apr 8, 2011, 8:55 PM**

The two new TRAX lines are opening in LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS!

scottharding · #**2927** Posted **Apr 9, 2011, 1:51 AM**

SWEET! With the airport line and the Frontrunner south not too far behind...

delts145 · #**2928** Posted **Apr 11, 2011, 1:20 PM**

Can transit-oriented development work along Wasatch Front?

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/70012...pment-work-along-Wasatch-Front.html?pg=1

"It's kind of like judging a kid's college potential based on his performance in kindergarten," said Reid Ewing, a professor of city and metropolitan planning at the University of Utah. "It's got a lot of developing and growing to do before you can tell whether it's going to be successful."

Though most of them have been slowed — and in some cases stalled — by the Great Recession, several transit-oriented developments are in the works along the Utah Transit Authority's light- and commuter-rail lines...

...Farmington's 800,000-square-foot, mixed-use development Station Park is starting to take shape at the junction of I-15 and U.S. 89. Other TODs are in various stages of planning or development in Salt Lake City, Provo, Orem, Ogden, Clearfield, Layton, Sandy, Draper, Midvale, South Salt Lake and West Jordan — among others.

One of the main reasons they're moving forward, Taylor said, is TODs seem to have the support of banks, credit unions and other lenders...

...But they're not developing as quickly as builders and transit experts projected they would. Some point fingers at the economy, saying such developments would be thriving now if lenders hadn't gotten cold feet...

..."There's no question that the economy really did slow down the idea of transit-oriented development," said Ryan McFarland, UTA's transit economic development manager. "But that's OK, because it gave us an opportunity to really get out there and plan. … Planning is critical. There are ways to make transit-oriented development successful."...

Partially developed land sits empty near the North Murray UTA TRAX station on Fireclay Avenue. Transit officials believe land near station can be successfully developed. (Stuart Johnson, Deseret News)

.

Future Mayor · #**2929** Posted **Apr 11, 2011, 5:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by delts145

Can transit-oriented development work along Wasatch Front?

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/70012...pment-work-along-Wasatch-Front.html?pg=1

"It's kind of like judging a kid's college potential based on his performance in kindergarten," said Reid Ewing, a professor of city and metropolitan planning at the University of Utah. "It's got a lot of developing and growing to do before you can tell whether it's going to be successful."

Though most of them have been slowed — and in some cases stalled — by the Great Recession, several transit-oriented developments are in the works along the Utah Transit Authority's light- and commuter-rail lines...

...Farmington's 800,000-square-foot, mixed-use development Station Park is starting to take shape at the junction of I-15 and U.S. 89.

.

Once again I have to express my frustration and disagree with Station Park being referred to as Transit Oriented Development. Just because it's next to a station doesn't make in Transit Oriented IMO, having to traverse over hundreds of yards of parking lot to get from the retail to the transit is not Transit Oriented. As I've referred to it before, it's Transit Adjacent Development, and from what I remember from the renderings, there isn't even a large designated walkway from the station to the retail, it's simply a walk through a sea of asphalt. At it's purest form, it's a transit stop and a retail development with a shared parking agreement.

s.p.hansen · #**2930** Posted **Apr 12, 2011, 6:06 AM**

UDOT just posted a virtual tour of the new I-15 Provo Center Street interchange.

The new configuration is fantastic. The virtual tour is also really cool because you get to see a segment of the finished new freeway with the high mast lighting in the center.

• Video Link

farmerboy · #**2931** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 3:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

Now, where would Frontrunner come in? Sardine Canyon or around through the Tremonton area? Either way it doesn't seem like there's a lot of demand for it right now, but I agree it would be cool, especially during winter weather. Who would use it though? If you live in Cache Valley, 99% of the time you're going to work there - and that's a good thing.

I think frontrunner to Logan would be awesome as an ultimate goal. As I understand it Frontrunner to Brigham City is in the works for long range and I'm guessing continuation to Logan would be beyond that.

The roadway through Sardine Canyon seems wide enough that you could fit a rail line along side or down the center of the roadway.

Talking with many persons I know who've lived in Logan, they're making trips to Ogden/SLC quite frequently. I also have family in Logan, I would use very often on weekends. A train through the canyon could be very helpful as it's very dangerous to drive during bad weather.

SLCdude · #**2932** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 7:17 PM**

Hey guys,

I'm trying to get an internship with UTA this summer but they've told me they aren't hiring interns at this time and that I should check their site weekly for openings. If anyone hears anything about an internship opening with UTA I would be very grateful to hear about it!

s.p.hansen · #**2933** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 11:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLCdude

Hey guys,

I'm trying to get an internship with UTA this summer but they've told me they aren't hiring interns at this time and that I should check their site weekly for openings. If anyone hears anything about an internship opening with UTA I would be very grateful to hear about it!

This is very exciting. I hope it works out

. Consider my limited ability to help at your disposal.

s.p.hansen · #**2934** Posted **Apr 15, 2011, 10:06 AM**

April North Temple Viaduct Update

Nothing has changed that much on the west side of the viaduct since the last update; the east side has now been brought to the same level of development as the west side.

shakman · #**2935** Posted **Apr 15, 2011, 4:01 PM**

Love that last pic.

According to airlineroute.net, Delta has made an adjustment to its non-stop seasonal service to Tokyo-Narita due to the March 2011 earthquake.

http://airlineroute.net/2011/04/15/dl-slcnrt-s11/

SLCdude · #**2936** Posted **Apr 19, 2011, 1:00 AM**

Is it just me or has the Sugarhouse Streetcar project gone silent. i haven't heard anything about it in a while.

Oh, and SLC Projects, I'm eager to see photos of the TRAX progress at the airport!

farmerboy · #**2937** Posted **Apr 19, 2011, 4:48 AM**

We had a Guest Lecturer from UTA come in to class 2 weeks ago who talked briefly about the Sugarhouse Line. He mentioned that they are taking their time with this line to try and do it right. He showed several pictures of what they had visioned. From the pictures shown they're wanted to make the area where the line is going more of an active living space vs. just a rail line. It sounded like they're working hard with both SLC & SSLC to make that vision happen. He's not sure how much of the vision will be achieved, but did mention there is an expiration on the funding and they just need to have construction started by that point. Unfortunately he did not mention that date, but it sounds like they're going to postpone construction as long as possible to integrate as many landowners into the process as possible.

A little disappointed the project is delayed, but I think in the long-run it will be worth the wait!

SLCdude · #**2938** Posted **Apr 19, 2011, 6:14 AM**

Thanks, Farmerboy! Just out of curiosity, what class was that?

billbillbillbill · #**2939** Posted **Apr 19, 2011, 2:36 PM**

KSL ran a story a few days ago about the progress of Frontrunner South. In the story, they mentioned that sales tax revenue was down 100 million dollars so they had to slow down the project for the time being.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=15188209

I am not sure how much of the Sugarhouse line is coming from the federal grant and how much is coming from local funds but it probably is a factor right now.

arkhitektor · #**2940** Posted **Apr 19, 2011, 2:39 PM**

If projects like FrontRunner South and the Sugarhouse streetcar really are being delayed because of decreased sales tax revenue, I say scrap the Draper TRAX line entirely. It's arguably the least important of the current rail expansions, and least wanted/deserved by the residents it aims to serve. The money could be better used elsewhere right now.