Centerville officials haven't endorsed UTA streetcar plan - Davis County Clipper - March 25, 2010

Centerville officials haven’t endorsed UTA streetcar plan

by Melinda Williams

Mar 25, 2010 | 62 views | 0  | 2  |  | 

CENTERVILLE — Centerville City officials say they cannot endorse the “build” alternative proposed in the South Davis Transit Draft Environmental Study Report.

In a letter to the Utah Transit Authority, city officials outlined several areas they believe need clarification as to the city’s stance on the proposed streetcar system. The letter was signed by Mayor Ronald G. Russell and every city council member.

UTA spokesperson Gerry Carpenter said the agency knew the city would be bringing up concerns. He added the specifics brought out in the letter need to be addressed and will be.

Thus far, UTA has heard from 840 people concerning the streetcar project. About one in 10 of the comments have been supportive, Carpenter said.

The public comment period continues through March 31. Those wishing to comment may email southdavistransit@hwlochner.com or by fax at 801-415-5850 or by mail at South Davis Transit Corridor Project, c/o H.W. Lochner, 1245 E. Brickyard Road, suite 400, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84106.

According to Centerville’s letter, many in the city are concerned that Centerville officials favor the rail transit option, or that the Main Street plan identifies rail as the city’s preferred transit option. “These perceptions by the public are inaccurate.”

In the body of the letter, Centerville officials are adamant the city has not identified a preferred transit mode. “More specifically, we have not indicated that we prefer rail transit.” City officials say they expect the decision to be based on several additional processes and whether there is funding.

Carpenter said the city is right to point out this is just a study and that no funding has been allocated. He said there will be several additional steps the agency must take before any option is approved, and that at each phase, public comment will be solicited.

In the letter, Centerville officials also said it wasn’t the intent of the city’s Main Street Plan to indicate the community’s preference for a specific transit mode.

The letter told UTA, “We have previously advised you that an important component of our Main Street Plan is that we do not want the roadway to be widened in any significant way and that any improvements to the right-of-way should be limited to the enhancement of sidewalks and pedestrian spaces.”

Noting that many Centerville residents are concerned that the alternative has been deemed the “locally preferred alternative,” Carpenter said the phrase doesn’t mean the alternative has been adopted. “It’s an industry term to denote the build alternative used in the study,” he said. “Every concern still needs to be addressed, reviewed and discussed in the final version.”

City officials also noted they have heard from residents concerned about safety issues. Officials ask that other routes be considered, or that the build alternative end at Pages Lane if those concerns cannot be addressed adequately.

“That’s a legitimate concern for the Centerville area,” Carpenter said, adding if the build alternative ends at Pages Lane, UTA will look at other ways to take care of commuters who may otherwise have used the streetcar through Centerville, such as buses along the route.

The city asked UTA to move forward immediately with further analysis and planning for improved bus service and better east-west connections.

Carpenter said UTA wants the project as a way to improve transportation. That may include buses, rails, FrontRunner, trails or other transportation alternatives to move people through the area.

“We want it to be something people use,” he said. “Whatever we do in south Davis needs to meet the needs of the community.”

mwilliams@davisclipper.com