Salt Lake Transit News Thread

[John Martin]

Well, it's not there yet.

[Hatman]

Here's the latest news (unofficial, of course) on the Black Line:

- Opening for service December 8, same day as the S Line
- Full-service testing to begin sometime in November
- Equipment tests are essentially complete. Everything works, including the new audio and visual announcements in the trains.

I remember hearing one of the managers say something about 'never opening two lines on the same day again' after opening the West Valley and South Jordan lines in 2011. I guess that promise didn't last long.

Item of news #2 - Vineyard Frontrunner platform construction has been approved to take place in the spring next year (2014). But don't get your hopes up yet - the station won't open for business for about 3 more years. They are building the platform now (presumably minus shelters, lights, and signs) in order to take advantage of set contract prices with the construction companies.
The next Frontrunner station to open will be a UTA employee-only station at Warm Springs maintenance facility.

[stayinginformed]

Originally Posted by Hatman

Here's the latest news (unofficial, of course) on the Black Line:

- Opening for service December 8, same day as the S Line
- Full-service testing to begin sometime in November
- Equipment tests are essentially complete. Everything works, including the new audio and visual announcements in the trains.

I remember hearing one of the managers say something about 'never opening two lines on the same day again' after opening the West Valley and South Jordan lines in 2011. I guess that promise didn't last long.

This is great news. Come December, I will not have to transfer to get to work at the University. Can't wait.

[Makid]

How busy was SLC last weekend? TRAX ridership was up 141%
Transit » Many big events lead to big leap in UTA use.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56853453-90/trax-percent-barron-uta.html.csp

s a sign of how unusually busy downtown Salt Lake City was last weekend, TRAX ridership was 141 percent higher than normal last Saturday and 54 percent higher on Friday.

That came amid such big events as the Comic Con science fiction and fantasy convention — with 50,000 tickets sold, a James Taylor concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Utah State Fair, the Greek Festival and a University of Utah football game on Saturday.

Utah Transit Authority spokesman Remi Barron said that on Friday, TRAX had 86,544 boardings, up 54 percent over the previous Friday. FrontRunner had 16,644 boardings, up 40 percent.

On Saturday, TRAX had 82,565 boardings, an increase of 141 percent over the previous Saturday. And FrontRunner had 15,119, up 129 percent.

The increases came as UTA is offering free return trips to anyone who takes TRAX to the State Fair, and as University of Utah football tickets are good for free UTA fare all day on game days. The university paid UTA $300,000 to allow that for a variety of sports tickets this academic year.

And from UTA's Blog:

Thousands ride UTA on exceptionally busy weekend

http://www.letsrideuta.com/2013/09/11/thousands-ride-on-busy-weekend/

UTA has seen higher than normal ridership over the last two weeks due to athletic and cultural events. Since August 29, UTA’s TRAX ridership has exceeded 80,000 on four separate days.

[CountyLemonade]

Originally Posted by John Martin

Well, it's not there yet.

Thanks for that shot, John. Reminds me of what the first S70s looked like when they came here for initial testing. Where exactly along the S Line was that taken?

Originally Posted by Hatman

Here's the latest news (unofficial, of course) on the Black Line:

- Opening for service December 8, same day as the S Line
- Full-service testing to begin sometime in November
- Equipment tests are essentially complete. Everything works, including the new audio and visual announcements in the trains.

I remember hearing one of the managers say something about 'never opening two lines on the same day again' after opening the West Valley and South Jordan lines in 2011. I guess that promise didn't last long.

I love everything about this. The exact alignment of the Black Line, though. Has that still not been determined?

UTA needs to fix their direction signs on TRAX. On weekdays, when the Blue Line is running SD-100s, "Draper" and "Salt Lake City" are both displayed on a green background on the rollsign. No one's gonna confuse the Blue Line for the Green if it says "Draper," but what about "Salt Lake City?" I constantly see pleas on social media for UTA to change this.

On S70s, it would be nice if UTA could display a few lines of text alternating between each other. If you're a clueless out-of-towner in West Valley, and want to head downtown, "GRN-AIRPORT" won't be of too much help. "GREEN LINE"/"AIRPORT"/"VIA DOWNTOWN" makes a lot more sense. Or, if the Black Line goes to the airport: "BLACK LINE"/"UNIVERSITY"/"VIA DOWNTOWN" or something along those lines.

[Future Mayor]

Nevermind.

[downtownslcresident]

Originally Posted by Hatman

Here's the latest news (unofficial, of course) on the Black Line:

- Opening for service December 8, same day as the S Line
- Full-service testing to begin sometime in November
- Equipment tests are essentially complete. Everything works, including the new audio and visual announcements in the trains.

I remember hearing one of the managers say something about 'never opening two lines on the same day again' after opening the West Valley and South Jordan lines in 2011. I guess that promise didn't last long.

Item of news #2 - Vineyard Frontrunner platform construction has been approved to take place in the spring next year (2014). But don't get your hopes up yet - the station won't open for business for about 3 more years. They are building the platform now (presumably minus shelters, lights, and signs) in order to take advantage of set contract prices with the construction companies.
The next Frontrunner station to open will be a UTA employee-only station at Warm Springs maintenance facility.

Where do you get your information from? Because UTA is consistently denying these rumors on social media. It doesn't make sense that they would say they aren't going to do that when people ask them directly....especially considering how much of a push there is to actually resurrect this line.

[stayinginformed]

Originally Posted by downtownslcresident

Where do you get your information from? Because UTA is consistently denying these rumors on social media. It doesn't make sense that they would say they aren't going to do that when people ask them directly....especially considering how much of a push there is to actually resurrect this line.

I talked to a UTA planner a few weeks ago, and he confirmed that it is in the works. He didn't tell me when they are planning on opening the line.

[scottharding]

Speaking of Streetcars, there is a Downtown Streetcar Planning open house tomorrow evening at Harmons grocery store at City Creek, one the second floor from 5-7 pm.

[downtownslcresident]

Originally Posted by stayinginformed

I talked to a UTA planner a few weeks ago, and he confirmed that it is in the works. He didn't tell me when they are planning on opening the line.

right...i believe that you're source is credible...but i am wondering where hatman got his information from, he states matter of factly that it is opening on december 8th, yet UTA denies that.

[John Martin]

Originally Posted by CountyLemonade

Thanks for that shot, John. Reminds me of what the first S70s looked like when they came here for initial testing. Where exactly along the S Line was that taken?

Just east of State. It was just inching along, 1-2 mph, and I happened to pass right before it crossed.

[SLCdude]

Originally Posted by scottharding

Speaking of Streetcars, there is a Downtown Streetcar Planning open house tomorrow evening at Harmons grocery store at City Creek, one the second floor from 5-7 pm.

I'll be there tomorrow night!!!

I went on a bike ride along the S Line corridor today, and I have some photos to share here!

[SLCdude]

Here's three photos I took at Central Pointe Station (2100 S)

[Hatman]

Originally Posted by downtownslcresident

right...i believe that you're source is credible...but i am wondering where hatman got his information from, he states matter of factly that it is opening on december 8th, yet UTA denies that.

I guess maybe I did state everything very matter of factly - my apologies if I turn out to be wrong.

I ride to work on Frontrunner and often see a Trax supervisor who knows I am a fan - so he tells me about the work done each night for testing on the Black Line. According to him - and this is my theory as to why this hasn't been publicly announced yet - the Black Line is happening now because of a new funding source. Apparently the U, SLC, and the airport are in talks of how to share the costs of the new service. Because the airport is involved, extended hours - if not full 24/7 service - will be in the contract. The U was pushing hard to get the Black Line going before fall semester started, and now it sounds like their funding comes attached with a requirement that the service starts before the semester is over. And SLC wants the added service in place before the holidays. The next change day (when drivers get to pick their new work schedules) is Dec. 8, so that is the most logical time for start up.
Until the funding agreement is finalized, everyone involved will deny it - that is the unfortunate nature of funding agreements.
Fortunately for us, however, the supervisors conducting the tests (which are still underway) are less discrete!

[downtownslcresident]

Originally Posted by Hatman

I guess maybe I did state everything very matter of factly - my apologies if I turn out to be wrong.

I ride to work on Frontrunner and often see a Trax supervisor who knows I am a fan - so he tells me about the work done each night for testing on the Black Line. According to him - and this is my theory as to why this hasn't been publicly announced yet - the Black Line is happening now because of a new funding source. Apparently the U, SLC, and the airport are in talks of how to share the costs of the new service. Because the airport is involved, extended hours - if not full 24/7 service - will be in the contract. The U was pushing hard to get the Black Line going before fall semester started, and now it sounds like their funding comes attached with a requirement that the service starts before the semester is over. And SLC wants the added service in place before the holidays. The next change day (when drivers get to pick their new work schedules) is Dec. 8, so that is the most logical time for start up.
Until the funding agreement is finalized, everyone involved will deny it - that is the unfortunate nature of funding agreements.
Fortunately for us, however, the supervisors conducting the tests (which are still underway) are less discrete!

I love that! Thanks for elaborating for me. Hopefully everything locks in here pretty quickly!

[Boz]

Nice pics, SLCdude.

I half expected to see a photo with Stormtroopers unloading/loading at the stop.

[Merewether]

I went to the downtown streetcar exhibit / public input meeting at City Creek Harmon's this evening.

When this issue was first discussed I was skeptical thinking it might help visitors (fixed rail systems are easier to visualize) but anyone familiar with downtown can easily identify crosstown buses to hop on. The open house reminded me that streetcars are not just to improve transit but to provide a permanent catalyst for future development. Some of the scenarios proposed providing a streetcar down about 400 West to Granary District to help it develop as either a dense single family neighborhood or as a district of mid-rise apartment buildings and businesses. Other proposals were closer to some which I think have been proposed here--lines on 100 or 200 South east to 7th East.

See www.downtownslcstreetcar.com for more info.

[SLCdude]

There's a transit map design competition going on in Boston.
http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/?id=27169

UTA ought to let people re-design their ugly maps. There's a few people on this forum alone (I forget who) that have made incredible system maps that are far more appealing than UTA's official rail map.

[Reachforthesky]

Utah Department of Transportation officials are planning to launch a $120 million construction project along I-15 in Davis County this spring.

The project will replace seven bridges, reconfigure two interchanges at 2600 South in Woods Cross and 500 South in Bountiful (New Diverging Diamond Interchange) and add a northbound express lane between North Salt Lake and Farmington.

More info in the KSL link below:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=26858912...d-for-i-15&fm=home_page&s_cid=featured-2


I wish UDOT would give I-15 in the northern Wasatch Front a completely new freeway from N.Salt Lake to Riverdale! Just like they did in Utah County! High mast lighting and all! Honestly that stretch is over due for an upgrade! Especially Layton to Roy!! There's Potholes for days!

[bob rulz]

Originally Posted by John Martin

Just east of State. It was just inching along, 1-2 mph, and I happened to pass right before it crossed.

That's the parking lot of the AMF bowling alley, correct?