Salt Lake Transit News Thread

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by SLCrising

Can't UTA put more effort into building it from SLC Southward first? Then maybe open the line a little at a time as the construction progresses southward. That at least, would give some more options for the South Valley residents to get on FR in advance of 2012, or whenever they are calling for. I forget what the alignment, stations are, does anyone have a map of the South FR?

I was thinking the same thing. They should open up stations as they head south, and not wait and open them all at once. I think with the northern line, though, they worked on the segments all at the same time... not linearly from north to south.

Here's a map of the Frontrunner South:


http://rideuta.com/images/ProposedStations051407.jpg

[wrendog]

I see they have the propose LRT line into Utah County as well..

Why are there so many more stations in UC than in SLC???

[UTPlanner]

I think the reason they haven't placed more stations in SL County is simple demand. The TRAX line already runs through the valley and is definitely cheaper and just as easy to utilize, though prices seem to be on a constant march upwards.

[wrendog]

That makes sense to me, but if that map comes true and Trax is extended to UC, then that would make way to many commuter stations. Oh well, i'm not complaining.

[SLC Projects]

It looks like UC will only have five commuter stations. Only American fork or Pleasant Grove will get a station.

[wrendog]

I see that. It better be AF main street.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by wrendog

I see they have the propose LRT line into Utah County as well..

Why are there so many more stations in UC than in SLC???

I don't see any LRT into Utah county. What're you talkin' 'bout, Willis?

[wrendog]

Consider me a moron. That is the freeway. At first glance, it looked like a transit line. My bad.

[ski_steve]

This article is about streetcars and mentions Salt Lake in it as well. Perhaps a glimpse into what Salt Lake's street car might look like? Im starting to think I would prefer something modern for SugarHouse.

NYTIMES
Downtowns Across the U.S. See Streetcars in Their Future


At least 40 other cities are exploring streetcar plans to spur economic development, ease traffic congestion and draw young professionals and empty-nest baby boomers back from the suburbs, according to the Community Streetcar Coalition, which includes city officials, transit authorities and engineers who advocate streetcar construction.






More than a dozen have existing lines, including New Orleans, which is restoring a system devastated by Hurricane Katrina. And Denver, Houston, Salt Lake City and Charlotte, N.C., have introduced or are planning to introduce streetcars.





http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/us...%20lake&st=cse

[delts145]

Transportation secretary calls for more local control of freeways

She notes how long it took to get approval for an I-15 project

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10241756


Mary Peters, U.S. Transportation secretary, talks with... (Paul Fraughton/The Salt Lake Tribune )

DRAPER - Utah's upcoming switch to electronic tolling in freeway express lanes is a prime example of why Congress needs to give states and cities more control over transportation decisions, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said Monday.
It took months of explaining to federal officials just to gain approval for the plan because it is on a federal highway - even though the Utah Department of Transportation is spending only state money for the $10 million project....

.

[delts145]

Delta-Northwest merger looks likely soon

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1...252137,00.html

...With no more congressional reviews planned, conventional wisdom now holds that the proposed merger of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines will be completed this year without any major new political objections...

.

[RC14]

About a month ago I posted about how I think the proposed street car line should be extended to link all the major shoping areas downtown. The last time I posted my plan linked the street car and LRT to create a transit loop downtown. I was bored the other day and started trying to find a way to build a street car line from Sugar House to SLC Central Station connecting all major shopping areas. I don't know if street cars can travel on LRT tracks but if they can I came up with some ideas using the TRAX tracks(and some that don't).
[IMG][/IMG]

[delts145]

Originally Posted by anyiliang

For the Frontrunner, are they going to connect the Sandy or Draper station with Trax?

At this time, there are proposed track alignments at 1000 south in Sandy and also Draper, that would connect TRAX and FrontRunner. Check out this site for the detailed maps:

http://www.rideuta.com/projects/drap...Rail/maps.aspx

Whether there will be a transfer station in the immediate future or the possibility left open has yet to be determined. I guess a lot will depend on what happens with the current overview process now underway for Sandy and Draper itself. I imagine that because of the continuing population surge in the southern metro, there will be at the very least, an accomodation for transfer station capability in the near future. Soon, there will a need to extend lightrail/TRAX into Lehi, Am.Fork,Provo,etc., in addition to the FrontRunner commuter line, now under development.

The population of Utah Valley is expected to more than double within a very short while. Given the many barriers of a major lake and mountains, I think it is only probable that FrontRunner will need to be augmented by another option such as TRAX.

Even with a major freeway proceeding through Cedar Valley, and the current expansion of I-15, surface parkways, along with FrontRunner, that will not be sufficient to handle the traffic over on the east and north sides of Utah Lake.

There is a major bottleneck developing along the southern metro corridor that will be every bit as challenging as the corridor to the north of Downtown Salt Lake. I think that twenty years from now, several options will have to be fully utilized in order to keep the north/south flow of traffic running smoothly into the CBD of downtown from Utah Valley.

Your very familiar with the area Anyiliang. What do you envision?

Project Overview - Summer 2008:

The Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), Salt Lake County’s metropolitan planning organization, and the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) have identified the need for a high-capacity transit option in the southern part of Salt Lake County. This transportation solution will maintain mobility and meet the long-term travel needs of the growing region as outlined in the 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan developed by WFRC.

UTA, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (FTA), is currently preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the extension of fixed guideway light-rail transit service through the cities of Sandy and Draper to the southernmost part of Salt Lake County. Included in the study will be a two-track extension of the existing UTA North-South Light-Rail Transit (TRAX) line from its current terminus at 10000 South in Sandy to about 14600 South in Draper along the UTA-owned right-of-way.

The study area for the project is about 26.5 square miles and begins at the current end-of-line 10000 South station of the UTA North-South Light-Rail Transit (TRAX) line. It is generally bounded on the north by 10000 South, on the east by 1300 East and a line 1 mile east of the UTA-owned railroad right-of-way, on the south by a line 1 mile south of 14600 South, and on the west by the western Draper city limits and the Jordan River. The study area is located primarily in the cities of Sandy and Draper and includes parts of White City, South Jordan, and Bluffdale.

[arkhitektor]

Of the three Draper aligments in the link above, only the third is still in the running. Thats the alignment that UTA already owns and the neighbors that were pushing for the other routes lost in court earlier this year.

When and if TRAX is eventually extended to Draper, it will be entirely on the east side of I-15. Since Frontrunner will be entirely on the west side, there is no opportunity left for a direct transfer station in Sandy or Draper.



The only transfer station planned for FrontRunner S. will be at 5300 S. in Murray.

[i-215]

Photo update: Legacy Parkway at I-215









Looks just about ready to open. Less than a month to go!

[scrapernerd]

Mid-Jordan Light Rail TRAX Construction Update: August 20, 2008*

Please forward this information on to others that would be interested.



*This schedule is subject to change due to weather, materials issues, or unanticipated utility conflicts.



Bangerter Highway Road Impacts



UPDATE: Due to materials issues, the Bangerter Highway construction activities have been delayed and will not be taking place as scheduled between August 18th and August 25th. There will be a notification when construction activities are scheduled to begin.



Sugar Factory Area



There are no activities taking place that impact traffic at this time.



Old Bingham Area



UPDATE: Due to materials issues, the Old Bingham Highway construction activities have been delayed and will not be taking place as scheduled. There will be a notification when construction activities are scheduled to begin.



Activity: Utility work is currently ongoing. Traffic Impacts: Shoulder work with possible lane restrictions.



Gardner Village Area



Activity: Access to Gardner Village from the Jordan River Parkway Trail is closed until August 2009.



Activity: The Jordan River Parkway Trail will be detoured near approximately 7500 South beginning in early September. More details regarding specific impacts will follow in a separate email update.



Activity: Construction on retaining walls at 7800 South near Gardner Village began on June 30th and will continue for approximately 2 months. Traffic Impacts: There will be a designated truck turning lane on the north side of 7800 South accessing the Gardner Village property. Flagging operations will be in place as trucks enter and exit the roadway. To accommodate this construction, the following closures will be in place:

· The eastbound lane on the south side of 7800 South will be closed as necessary starting on August 6th

· The westbound lane on the north side of 7800 South will be closed with flagging operations through September 5th



Activity: Grading and utility work is currently ongoing. Traffic Impacts: Shoulder closures with possible lane restrictions.



Cottonwood Area



Activity: Construction will begin in the Cottonwood Street area in early September. More details regarding specific impacts will follow later this week in a separate email update.



Activity: Utility work will continue in the Cottonwood Street area through the month of August. Traffic Impacts: Possible lane restrictions.





If you have any question or concerns regarding the project, please let me know.



Sarah Loughlin

Community Involvement Specialist

Utah Transit Authority

Office: 801-236-4783

24-Hour Project Hotline: (888) 550-2211

sloughlin@rideuta.com



this is the first email they have sent me, if

[MetroFanatic]

Originally Posted by scrapernerd

Old Bingham Area


UPDATE: Due to materials issues, the Old Bingham Highway construction activities have been delayed and will not be taking place as scheduled. There will be a notification when construction activities are scheduled to begin.


Activity: Utility work is currently ongoing. Traffic Impacts: Shoulder work with possible lane restrictions.

I live right next to Old Bingham so maybe when things start looking up I can supply some pictures. Right now there are a lot of pipes and machinery alongside the road, but that's about it.

I'm still waiting for news on when those new Siemen cars for TRAX are going to start running on the Sandy/Salt Lake and University line. Does anybody know? They are just so much cooler looking I think.

[WASDEN]

I'll admit I love rankings, heres one from Forbes that lists the 10 best cities for commuters, Salt Lake lands at #2. I think thats a bit rosey of an estimation, with some astronomical claims about the percentage of our commuters that use transit. Check it out here:

http://www.forbes.com/realestate/200...?partner=msnbc

[cololi]

Originally Posted by WASDEN

I'll admit I love rankings, heres one from Forbes that lists the 10 best cities for commuters, Salt Lake lands at #2. I think thats a bit rosey of an estimation, with some astronomical claims about the percentage of our commuters that use transit. Check it out here:

http://www.forbes.com/realestate/200...?partner=msnbc

Thats funny. Only 27 hours a year commuting. What is that, like 6 minutes a day?

[delts145]

Sandy to rebuild 1300 East

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700254252,00.html

SANDY — Sandy city officials have secured $21 million in federal funds to rebuild the dilapidated but busy 1300 East corridor between 7800 South and 10600 South.

The project will repave and widen the street in addition to adding a bike lane, a jogging path, new street lights and a landscaped median.

Aging wooden fences and rock sound barriers will also be replaced with cobblestone walls in many locations.

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, who secured the lion's share of the funding, said the city's integrated transportation system is a microcosm for the rest of the Wasatch Front.

"They ask for legitimate, really good projects that make a difference to our community," the congressman said of Sandy's leaders. "When this project's done it's really just going to be a great asset to the community."

Over the past decade, Sandy has received $200 million in federal funds, said Mayor Tom Dolan. The 1300 East project follows ongoing work on 700 East and the widening of 9000 South and improvements to Highland Drive.

"We believe this is the finest transportation system in Salt Lake County," Dolan said.

The improved access management planned for 1300 East could increase the road's capacity by 23 percent to 45 percent, according to a study by the Utah Department of Transportation. Travel time could be reduced by 40-60 percent.

The changes, particularly the new medians, are also expected to reduce the crash rate by as much as 50 percent.
Between 2001 and 2005, the street saw 1,656 collisions — more than one each day. Most were related to left-hand turns, said city engineer Mike Gladbach.

When the project is complete, drivers will only be able to turn left at intersections, he explained.

"A lot of this is about safety," he said.

When Sandy's contributions are added, the project's funding reaches about $24.5 million. If the city is able to raise about $6 million more, the project could extend the improvements on 1300 East to 12000 South.

Work will begin on the outer edges of the street and work toward the center, Gladbach said. The thoroughfare is expected to remain open throughout construction.