As U students and frequent commuters we have a good idea of both the positives and negatives of a light rail system.
The TRAX line has grown alongside the U, with one of its first lines being the red line, also known as the university line.
Now, Utah Transit Authority, or UTA, is working on a TRAX line from 200 West and 2100 South and ending above Fairmont Park. Sugar House officials want to expand the line, but a fierce debate has risen around the location of this expansion.
As it currently stands, there is a plan to build a streetcar running down 1100 East from 2100 South to 1700 South. This is the plan Mayor Ralph Becker and the Salt Lake City Council favor but many citizens are opposed to enacting.
Andrea Haughey of Boxing Is For Girls fitness studio in Sugar House is one such concerned citizen.
“It makes no sense,” Haughey said. “[Sugar House residents] are not opposed to a streetcar in Sugar House. We simply disagree with the 1100 East location. It would only run to 1700 South, which is a small distance for a streetcar, and the main TRAX line is on 200 West only. We need to look at other alternatives, such as going up 2100 South and possibly expanding to 1300 East or even 1500 East.”
Haughey provided some insight into local thoughts as well.
“None of the local business owners support this plan,” she said. “The construction would be very harmful to these local businesses. The construction that has been going on for the past year in Sugar House has already hurt the area economically. Another project would only worsen this trend.”
There will be a City Council public hearing tonight at 7 p.m. for citizens to voice their concerns about the new transit lines. This will be an interesting public hearing because the citizens and the local political leaders so strongly disagree with the idea.
Becker and the City Council want to vote on the new lines as quickly as possible so construction can begin immediately. It seems that the ever-expanding light rail system will continue to grow, despite public opposition in this instance.
However, the location might need to change. As it stands, it would run just four blocks down 1100 East — a distance that could be just as easily walked. A location farther away from the main TRAX line on 200 West would make more sense. By running a streetcar up 2100 South, for example, the line could connect with the university line.
There are many possibilities for light rail expansion in Salt Lake City. Before we rush into another expansion project, we should wait to see how our current system fairs. If we wait, we will have a better understanding of the best location for future lines.
TRAX line must align with locals’ needs
April 23, 2013
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jethrObama • Apr 26, 2013 at 11:09 am
Oops, I meant 20 minutes of wasted time per day… not per week. (Wish I could edit my post).
jethrObama • Apr 26, 2013 at 11:09 am
Oops, I meant 20 minutes of wasted time per day… not per week. (Wish I could edit my post).
jethrObama • Apr 26, 2013 at 11:07 am
Another oversite by UTA on the Trax line has everything to do with University of Utah people and the current Trax “blue line” train vs. “red line” trains.
UTA is about to extend trax blue line much further into Draper, and then over the hill into Lehi. Great. But the big problem is that any University bound student or staff member who wants to use Trax is forced to do a transfer to the red line which goes between the U and Day Break. With the current schedule, the transfer is a 10-minute wait from one train to the next, and you lose your seating trying to find a seat on the red line.
The same 10-minute delay happens on your return trip. You’re forced to get off of the Red Line and transfer (with a 10-minute delay) to the Blue Line in order to get back to Midvale, Sandy, Draper, and eventually Lehi.
This is 20-minutes of wasted time per week, or almost 2 hours. In a year’s time of commuting via Trax, this can add up to about 90-hours of wasted time per person. In the winter time these train stops are damp, frozen and cold, and in the summer time it’s blistering hot… with little shelter from temperature.
UTA Trax officials should consider a new “White Line” which runs every other train along with the Blue Line (U colors are Red and White right? lol) to run between Lehi/Draper and the U. This would solve the problem.
A less-desirable fix would be to keep the transfers but adjust the schedule so that the wait us 3 minutes or less… you would still compete for a new seat.
I believe that UTA wants riders. If they want students and staff from Midvale/Sandy/Draper/Lehi, then they should consider eliminating the transfer from the blue line to the red line.
Go Utes.
jethrObama • Apr 26, 2013 at 11:07 am
Another oversite by UTA on the Trax line has everything to do with University of Utah people and the current Trax “blue line” train vs. “red line” trains.
UTA is about to extend trax blue line much further into Draper, and then over the hill into Lehi. Great. But the big problem is that any University bound student or staff member who wants to use Trax is forced to do a transfer to the red line which goes between the U and Day Break. With the current schedule, the transfer is a 10-minute wait from one train to the next, and you lose your seating trying to find a seat on the red line.
The same 10-minute delay happens on your return trip. You’re forced to get off of the Red Line and transfer (with a 10-minute delay) to the Blue Line in order to get back to Midvale, Sandy, Draper, and eventually Lehi.
This is 20-minutes of wasted time per week, or almost 2 hours. In a year’s time of commuting via Trax, this can add up to about 90-hours of wasted time per person. In the winter time these train stops are damp, frozen and cold, and in the summer time it’s blistering hot… with little shelter from temperature.
UTA Trax officials should consider a new “White Line” which runs every other train along with the Blue Line (U colors are Red and White right? lol) to run between Lehi/Draper and the U. This would solve the problem.
A less-desirable fix would be to keep the transfers but adjust the schedule so that the wait us 3 minutes or less… you would still compete for a new seat.
I believe that UTA wants riders. If they want students and staff from Midvale/Sandy/Draper/Lehi, then they should consider eliminating the transfer from the blue line to the red line.
Go Utes.
Emma • Apr 23, 2013 at 8:17 am
how our current system “fares” is what you mean (don’t let a good article end on a bad typo)
Emma • Apr 23, 2013 at 8:17 am
how our current system “fares” is what you mean (don’t let a good article end on a bad typo)