Thursday, December 30, 2010

FrontRunner Making Money for the State?

FrontRunner nets state $16.5 million reimbursement
byMelinda Williams
Dec 30, 2010 | 71 views | 0 0 comments |  | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend | print
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT recently gave the state a reimbursement for FrontRunner’s construction. The train started running in April 2008. Photo: Ron Brown
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT recently gave the state a reimbursement for FrontRunner’s construction. The train started running in April 2008. Photo: Ron Brown
DAVIS COUNTY — Davis County residents and others have been riding the FrontRunner commuter train since April 2008.

Now, the federal government is giving the state a $16.5 million reimbursement for the rail’s construction.

The money was part of $37 million for two rail projects funded under the federal government’s New Starts grants program for work already completed. The payment was announced Monday by U.S. Transportation Ray LaHood and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff.

The payments were for the FrontRunner Salt Lake City to Ogden commuter rail line and $20.623 million for the Mid-Jordan TRAX light rail project — both projects already completed and represent federal dollars previously committed to the projects under fill funding grant agreements.

“These advance payments are deeply appreciated and come at a time when they can be the most helpful,” said Michael Allegra, UTA general manager. “By freeing up local funds, it allows us to apply more resources toward completing our other rail projects.”

FrontRunner is a 44-mile, eight-station rail line between Salt Lake City and Pleasant view in Weber County. It cost $611.7 million to construct, with a federal New Starts Share of $489.4 million.

The Mid-Jordan line is a 10.6 mile light rail line that will connect to the Sandy/Salt Lake TRAX line at 6400 South (Fashion Place Mall). It cost $535.4 million, with a federal New Starts Share of $428.3 million. The new line will begin operations in August 2011.

Other UTA projects under construction include light rail extensions to the Salt Lake International Airport, West Valley City and Draper and a 45-mile extension of commuter rail from Salt Lake City to Provo.

For more information on UTA projects, visit www.rideuta.com.


Read more:Davis County Clipper - FrontRunner nets state 16 5 million reimbursement

Monday, December 27, 2010

UTA Receives Federal Funding Earlier Than Expected

TRAX_UPDATE_3.jpg
UTA receives federal funding earlier than expected
December 27th, 2010 @ 2:31pm
By Wendy Leonard
SALT LAKE CITY — The Federal Transit Administration announced Monday that it will advance a total of $182.4 million in New Starts funding to help with seven projects already underway in five states, including in Salt Lake.
Utah is expected to get more than $37 million for two separate projects.
"By making these payments now, we're not only fulfilling the federal government's commitment to these projects sooner, but we're also giving a well-timed boost to communities that have made an important investment in their transportation infrastructure," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a press release Monday.
The monies are being paid out earlier than originally expected because of unallocated, left-over funds in the FTA's fiscal year 2010 budget for new construction.
The Utah Transit Authority can now use the extra cash for other projects, including the West Valley and airport TRAX linesFrontRunner extension to Provo and the planning of a Draper-Sandy TRAX route.
"These advance payments are deeply appreciated and come at a time when they can be the most helpful," said UTA General Manager Michael Allegra. "By freeing up local funds, it allows us to apply more resources toward completing our other rail projects."
More than $20 million is slated to help the UTA pay for the 10.6-mile Mid-Jordan TRAX line, which will join the existing Sandy line at 6400 South, providing a direct connection to the Salt Lake City central business district, the University of Utah and other Wasatch destinations.
The line, which will be completed in August 2011, is expected to carry 9,500 daily passengers by 2030, helping to reduce highway congestion and pollution. The project will cost a total of $535.4 million, with a federal New Starts share of $428.3 million committed to the project.
FrontRunner, which spans 44 miles and connects eight stations from Salt Lake City to Ogden, will get $16.5 million now, as part of New Starts expected contributions of $489.4 million for the $611.7 million project. The line currently has more than 5,100 daily riders and is expected to serve nearly 12,000 weekday riders by 2025.
Other projects receiving funding from the FTA include light rail routes in Dallas, commuter rail and subway projects in New York City, train lines in Northern Virginia and light rail extensions in Seattle.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Salt Lake City awarded grant for downtown streetcar study - ksl.com

streetcar_shutterstock.jpg
Salt Lake City awarded grant for downtown streetcar study
December 21st, 2010 @ 7:52pm
By Jared Page
SALT LAKE CITY — The Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City has been awarded a $470,000 federal grant to study options for a downtown streetcar system.
The Salt Lake City project was among 24 selected to receive a share of $25.7 million from the Federal Transit Administration. The funds will help Salt Lake City explore alignment options and operating concepts for a downtown streetcar system.
"With a daytime population that doubles every day, the City Creek development under way and the expansive growth of our downtown core in Salt Lake City, the timing of this funding to increase our transit options couldn't be better." -Mayor Ralph Becker
Mayor Ralph Becker said the funding allows Utah's capital city to take a "giant step" toward development of a streetcar system and provide more transit options for residents and visitors.
"With a daytime population that doubles every day, the City Creek development under way and the expansive growth of our downtown core in Salt Lake City, the timing of this funding to increase our transit options couldn't be better," Becker said in a news release.
Analysis of the streetcar system will be conducted by a technical advisory team that includes the city's divisions of transportation, engineering, housing and urban development, planning, sustainability and economic development, as well as the Utah Transit Authority.
The study area encompasses the section of downtown bordered by 500 East, 600 West, South Temple and 900 South.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Streetcar on display in downtown Salt Lake City

Streetcar on display in downtown Salt Lake City
December 5th, 2010 @ 5:03pm
By Marjorie Cortez
SALT LAKE CITY -- A gleaming red, white and blue streetcar pulled into Salt Lake Sunday -- atop a semi-trailer -- as a demonstration of possible transit options in downtown Salt Lake City.
The streetcar, manufactured by United Streetcar in Clackamas, Ore., was on display at the Gallivan Center for public tours. The car, about 66 feet long and 9 feet wide, can carry up to 170 passengers. The top speed for the electrical-powered vehicle is about 44 mph.
"What communities across the country are finding now (is that) bringing streetcars back into their communities is an excellent way to reinvigorate their downtowns and their adjacent neighborhoods to create a very pedestrian, lively, vital environment," said Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency director DJ Baxter.
In Portland, streetcars have significantly contributed to economic development along their lines, some $3.5 billion over the past decade, said Corey Yraguen, president of Oregon Iron Works, of which United Streetcar is a subsidiary.
Unlike light rail systems, such as Utah Transit Authority's TRAX system, streetcars make more frequent stops. "Street cars are integral to moving people around the city," Yraguen said.
Streetcars are fully accessible to people with disabilities. They are able to plow snow and drop sand if needed. This particular car had also been on display in Boston, Fort Worth and Cincinnati.
In October, UTA and city officials announced that a $26 million federal grant had been awarded to move forward with a streetcar project in Sugar House. The proposed 2-mile line will run from the old Granite Furniture building to the 2100 South TRAX station.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Centerville's Main Street Plan?

Density protest extends Main Street hearing in Centerville
byJenniffer Wardell
Nov 10, 2010 | 347 views | 0 0 comments |  | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend | print
CENTERVILLE — The public has spoken, and there are a couple of things about Centerville’s Main Street plan that they’re not happy with.

The Centerville City Council will continue the Nov. 3 public hearing on amendments to the plan at their Nov. 16 city council meeting. The council will then deliberate on whether or not to approve the amendments after the second portion of the public hearing is closed.

Mayor Ron Russell made the decision after the amount of people who wanted to speak against the increased density proposed by the plan ended up too much to be handled in a single meeting.

“The resounding message that the council heard was that, while there are many elements of the Main Street plan that we like, we just want lower density,” said Centerville resident Brent Hintze, who spoke at the meeting.

The plan, which was officially approved by the council in 2008, mandated certain design elements for Main Street buildings to give the stretch a more unified look. Some of the design details included the use of rock or other heavier building materials on the first floor, as well as the use of more glass facing the street.

Most of the amendments currently up for approval are actually relaxing some of the plan’s initial height requirements for buildings, as well as the removal of language that residents felt was too encouraging of public transit.

“The plan always accommodated the possibility of mass transit, but it was never the overarching desire,” said Centerville City Community Development Director Cory Snyder. “But folks felt like the plan was a little too friendly to mass transit, and wanted us to remove some of those references.”

The increased density option, which was a part of the original plan when it was first approved, comes from the decision to allow business owners more flexibility in the use of their buildings. The option was put in by the city to encourage owners to remodel their buildings to match the new plan.

“We’re trying to move the buildings closer to the street so that they frame it better,” said Snyder. “By opening it up and allowing for mixed uses, we’re giving owners more of an incentive to make changes.”

One of the things residents are concerned about, however, is that density will encourage mass transit along Main Street.

“UTA needs a higher density to make light rail more viable,” said Hintze. “By lowering density, it clearly minimizes the chances that light rail makes any sense.”

Earlier this month, the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) adopted the transportation plan for the Wasatch Front through the year 2040, and no money was allotted for light rail. It will be at least four years before the WFRC can take another look at the plan and possibly move money around, and the Utah Transit Authority, which is in charge of planning any such project, has said they won’t do that until they have more meetings with residents.

No matter how many years it is, though, some residents insist that the feedback won’t be any different.

“I feel that those people who move into Centerville should be more aware of the people who lived here for years and are content with many things,” said resident Marjean Steed, who also spoke at the hearing. “We don’t need high density or apartments on Main Street.

“We don’t need people telling us what kind of homes we can live in. If they don’t like it, they can move.”

jwardell@davisclipper.com

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Centerville City Council Meeting - November 3, 2010

http://www.centervilleut.net/agendasminutes.cc11032010ph.html




CITY COUNCIL TRANSMITTAL REPORT 
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 


MEETING DATE: NOVEMBER 03, 2010 

APPLICANT: CENTERVILLE CITY COUNCIL 
 250 NORTH MAIN STREET 
 CENTERVILLE, UTAH 84014 

APPLICATIONS: GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS - Section 12-480-7 
 South Main Street Corridor Plan, various edits as recommended 
by the Main Street Oversight Committee 

 ZONE TEXT AMENDMENTS – Chapter 12-48-South Main 
Street Corridor Zone, various edits as recommended by the Main 
Street Oversight Committee 

RECOMMENDATIONS: 1) APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS 
 2) CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE DENSITY & 
BUILDING HEIGHTS ASSOCAITED WITH THE 
AMENDMENTS 

BACKGROUND: 
Due to recent concerns expressed by a number of citizens about UTA’s Environmental 
Study of mass transit and the role of the South Main Street Corridor Plan may have on 
such public transit and related land uses, the City Council decided to re-visit the goals 
and policies of the Corridor Plan.  The purpose of the re-visit was to refine, modify, or 
even eliminate (if needed) language that would clarify the City’s expectations regarding 
these concerns expressed by the general public. Therefore, the City Council re- 
established the Main Street Oversight Committee, consisting of representatives from the 
City Council, Planning Commission, Main Street Property Owners, and other citizens.  

The Oversight Committee met on several occasions (from May to July, 2010), held open 
discussions with the public, and considered various changes and edits to both the Main 
Street Corridor Plan and the associated Main Street Corridor Zoning District. The 
recommendations of the committee were then forwarded to the Planning Commission for 
consideration. After three regular Commission meetings, with two public hearings being 
held, the Planning Commission recommended approval (4-2 vote) of the proposed edits, 
as submitted by the Committee. However as a result of the public input received by the 
Commission, the Commission also forwarded a second recommendation (6-0 vote) 
advising the City Council to carefully consider the densities and building heights 
associated with the South Main Street Plan and Zoning Ordinance.

CITY COUNCIL  
AGENDA REQUEST 

 2 
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: 
On October 13, 2010, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the proposed 
amendments, as follows:  

Action #1, General Plan Amendment - “Planning Commission recommended approval 
of the proposal to amend the Centerville City General Plan, as follows: 

1. Amend Section 12-480-7, South Main Street Corridor Plan, with the 
recommended edits suggested by the Main Street Oversight Committee, as 
attached in the October 13, 2010 Staff Report. 

FINDINGS/REASONS FOR ACTION 
a. A decision to amend the General Plan is a matter within the legislative discretion 
of the City Council as described in Section 12-21-060(a) of the Zoning 
Ordinance. 
b. The Commission finds that the proposed edits are refinements to the original 
concepts that were previously adopted by the City. 

Action #2, Zone Text Amendment - “Planning Commission recommended approval of 
the proposal to amend the Centerville City Zoning Ordinance, as follows: 

2. Amend Chapter 12-48-South Main Street Corridor District, with the 
recommended edits suggested by the Main Street Oversight Committee, as 
attached in the October 13, 2010 Staff Report. 

FINDINGS/REASONS FOR ACTION 

a. The Commission finds that Section 12-21-080.c. authorizes the “legislative” body 
to initiate a zone text amendment. 
b.  The Commission finds that the text change remains consistent to the goals and 
objectives of the General Plan, as proposed in the edits of the South Main Street 
Corridor Plan.  
c. The Commission finds that the proposed amendments comply with the review 
criteria found in Section 12-21-080(e) of the Zoning Ordinance, as reviewed and 
considered in the October 13, 2010 Staff Report. 


Planning Commission Vote (4-2): 
Commissioner Yes No Not Present 
Pedersen (Chair) X   
Fillmore             X   
Markham                X  
Kjar                   X   
Rasmussen         X   
Holbrook                X  

CITY COUNCIL  
AGENDA REQUEST 

Action #3, Both General Plan & Zoning Ordinance Amendments - “Planning 
Commission recommended the following advice to the City Council, as follows: 

3. Asking the City Council to pay special attention to the concerns of the public with 
respect to building heights and density along Main Street. 

Planning Commission Vote (6-0): 
Commissioner Yes No Not Present 
Pedersen (Chair) X   
Fillmore              X   
Markham            X   
Kjar                    X   
Rasmussen          X   
Holbrook            X   
  



  
   

Thursday, October 21, 2010

If You Oppose Streetcars, You Just Don't Know Much

Don’t expect streetcars to come to Bountiful soon
byMelinda Williams
Oct 18, 2010 | 491 views | 0 0 comments |  | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
BOUNTIFUL — Salt Lake City officials are hopeful the federal government will soon pick up the tab on at least some of their streetcar projects, but Bountiful City officials don’t believe South Davis will see streetcars anytime soon.

Bountiful City planner Aric Jensen said he believes some of the Salt Lake City lines are shovel ready, that is, builders can proceed as soon as funding is available.

That’s not the case in Bountiful or Centerville, where there’s been no engineering or other preparatory work done — and that may be several years out.

“Much (of South Davis’ streetcar plans) will depend on if Salt Lake City has success with their lines,” Jensen said. “It will take a more progressive city like Salt Lake to initially install it and make it a success.”

He said that if Salt Lake commuters readily take to the streetcars, it will pave the way for streetcars to be considered, not only in south Davis County, but in areas of Salt Lake County, like Rose Park — areas Jensen described as being on the fringe of Salt Lake City.

One of the problems he sees with proceeding with a streetcar plan for Bountiful and Centerville is that people don’t seem to know a lot about how they operate.

Jensen describes South Davis residents as being wary and cautious about streetcars, much the same as Wasatch Front residents were about light rail before the TRAX lines were installed. Now, TRAX is pretty much viewed as just another way to get around Salt Lake City and many Davis County residents use TRAX when in Salt Lake City. He believes the same thing will happen with streetcars.

Jensen said commuter rail provides a means for commuters to get to a destination 15, 20 or 25 miles away, and light rail can provide transportation for those 10-15 miles away. Streetcars are for those who need to travel only a mile to five miles. “It’s a much more personal type of transit.”

Residents’ wariness was pretty evident at two public hearings hosted by the Utah Transit Authority last spring in Centerville and Bountiful,where hundreds of residents turned out to protest the plan and the proposed route.

As to future streetcar funding in Davis County, “a lot depends on what happens in the (November) elections. Much depends on the political structure.”


Read more:Davis County Clipper - News, Classifieds, Events and Businesses in Davis County, Utah

ksl.com - Sugar House streetcar project awarded $26 million

ksl.com - Sugar House streetcar project awarded $26 million

Salt Lake City Streetcars?

Salt Lake City leaders seeking federal funds for downtown streetcar system

Group says government recently has shown support for similar projects across the country

Published: Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010 1:05 a.m. MDT
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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's capital city will need help from the federal government to get streetcars rolling downtown, according to consultants tasked with determining feasibility of the project.
HDR Engineering Inc. and Pehr & Peers on Tuesday presented to city leaders the results of a yearlong study about how and where a streetcar system would work in the downtown area.
Using criteria such as area demographics, zoning and activity generators, the consultants identified an initial alignment for a trolley-style rail line designed to shuttle pedestrians around downtown as well as bolster business and development.
The consultants recommend building the project in two phases, with the first of those connecting the future Harmons grocery store at City Creek Center on the corner of 100 South and 200 East with Salt Lake Central Station at approximately 600 West and 300 South.
The 1.7-mile line is proposed to be built on the outside lane of both sides of the street and cost between $49.2 million and $55.5 million.
The consultants estimate that connecting the streetcar with Salt Lake Central Station, making it easily accessible from TRAX and FrontRunner, would increase expected ridership by 30 percent.
The second phase of the route would extend the streetcar line south along 400 West and then east to the TRAX station at 900 South. That 1.2-mile extension has an estimated price tag of between $20.5 million and $25.3 million.
Federal funds will be required for the project to be a success, the consultants said.
The good news for Salt Lake City, the consultants said, is that the federal government recently has shown support for streetcar projects across the nation.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff "have been effusive in their praise for streetcar projects," the consultants wrote in the 72-page study.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration have put more than $300 million into capital grants for streetcar projects in the past 12 months, according to the report.
"This changed environment makes the federal government a credible potential funding partner for the a Salt Lake City project," the report states.
Salt Lake City's Redevelopment Agency already has submitted a grant application to the FTA to conduct further analysis on the proposed downtown streetcar alignments.
In the meantime, the consultants suggested that Salt Lake City officials coordinate planning efforts and capital projects with the project in mind. They also recommended that city officials have further discussions with the Utah Transit Authority about options for operating the streetcars.Salt Lake City Councilman Carlton Christensen said the process for bringing a streetcar system to downtown is about two years behind plans in Sugar House.
That proposed line would run from the 2100 South TRAX station to the old Granite Furniture building in Sugar House.
In February, city leaders learned that the Sugar House streetcar line was not selected by federal transportation officials to receive a piece of $1.5 billion in stimulus money.
The RDA is waiting to hear on its most recent grant application for federal funding.
"We're really focused on getting the Sugar House streetcar line done," said Luke Garrott, city councilman and chairman of the RDA board.
Garrott noted that completing the Sugar House streetcar line likely would build momentum for a downtown system.
"Sugar House is definitely the first piece that needs to happen," he said, "and we'll know a lot more after the Sugar House line gets built."

Sugarhouse Streetcar Coming Soon

Salt Lake City receives $26 million for Sugar House streetcar project

Published: Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010 4:08 p.m. MDT
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SALT LAKE CITY — In October 2007, Ralph Becker stood on the corner of McClelland Street and Sugarmont Drive and announced his intentions to make a light-rail or trolley route to Sugar House a high priority under his administration.
Becker, then a candidate for mayor, insisted that by working together with the Utah Transit Authority and South Salt Lake, the line could move forward much sooner than what then was a 20- to 25-year timetable.
A few days shy of three years later, Mayor Becker returned to that same corner Wednesday to celebrate a $26 million federal grant that will allow the Sugar House streetcar project to move forward immediately and possibly be operational within three years.
"I am pleased to announce that by securing the TIGER II grant, we have identified a crucial piece of federal funding to take the Sugar House streetcar from vision to reality," he said.
The Sugar House streetcar line was one of 42 capital construction projects awarded federal funding Wednesday through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program. The second round of the federal stimulus funding, known as TIGER II grants, will put nearly $600 million toward major infrastructure projects in 40 states, ranging from highways and bridges to transit, rail and ports.
City leaders say the $26 million awarded to the Sugar House project will jump-start construction of the two-mile streetcar line from the 2100 South TRAX station to the old Granite Furniture building.
Only three projects received more TIGER II funding than the Sugar House streetcar line. The largest grant, nearly $47.7 million, went to a streetcar project in Atlanta.
"These are innovative, 21st century projects that will change the U.S. transportation landscape by strengthening the economy and creating jobs, reducing gridlock and providing safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable transportation choices," U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a news release. "Many of these projects could not have been funded without this program.
Ralph Jackson, UTA's deputy chief of major program development, said project officials had applied for a $31 million grant, though he noted that the $26 million will be sufficient for the project to get under way immediately.
The full cost of the streetcar project has been estimated at $46 million, a figure that doesn't include the right of way for the line acquired years ago by UTA. But Salt Lake City transportation officials have been working with UTA to find ways to trim that price tag, Becker saidOne example of that is the possibility that cars already being acquired for UTA's TRAX system could be converted for streetcar use. That would also eliminate the need for separate maintenance facilities and operations, he said. "That saves an enormous amount of money in terms of development of the system," Becker said. Salt Lake City Councilman S?ren Simonsen described plans for a streetcar in Sugar House as "going back to the future," noting that the community was built on trolley lines that operated in the early part of the 20th century.
"We're bringing back technologies," Simonsen said, "but this will be a very modern trolley system. It will have a lot of things that historic trolleys didn't have in terms of accessibility for people with disabilities and our ability to integrate and tie in with other modes of transportation, pedestrians and bicyclists."
The project also will be unique in that the streetcar won't actually run on a street, he noted. Project plans call for the streetcar or trolley to use the abandoned railroad corridor between 2100 South and I-80.
The streetcar line also will be integrated with the Parleys Trail, creating what Simonsen says has the "opportunity to become a tremendous corridor that's really focused on transit and pedestrians."
The slower-moving streetcar would stop more frequently than a TRAX train, picking up and dropping off riders every other block. Streetcars in U.S. cities, including Portland, Ore., have shown to increase foot traffic to shops and restaurants along the line, city officials said. The permanency of the tracks spurs development in areas because the system guarantees people will have easy access specific locations.
It's a twist on the popular model of transit-oriented development, Becker said, in that the transit element is the catalyst for surrounding development.
City leaders have visited Portland and other U.S. cities with streetcar systems and have seen firsthand what they can do for an area.
"If it follows the examples of what we've seen in other areas in the country that have had (streetcars), you're going to see housing and apartments. You're going to see businesses," said JT Martin, City Council chairman. "You're going to see Sugar House come back like it was in its glory day."
In addition to encouraging development in the area, Jackson said the streetcar line will make it possible for people in Sugar House to connect with the rest of UTA's 150-mile rail system — and vice versa.
"(People will be able to) go anywhere in the valley right from this location," he said.
The Department of Transportation received nearly 1,000 construction grant applications for more than $19 billion from all 50 states, U.S. territories and Washington, D.C.
The high volume of requests for TIGER II project dollars follows a similar demand for the $1.5 billion awarded in February 2009 through the TIGER I program. The Sugar House project also was a candidate for those funds but was not selected.
Jackson said UTA and city officials were "quite optimistic" the Sugar House streetcar project would be among those receiving funding in the second round of grants.
"When we talked to the federal people when the last set of grants were issued, they told us we were right at the top of the list; we were just below the cutoff," he said. "So we were feeling quite positive in this next go-round that this project would be included and receive a grant."