Party Lines: Should There Be Streetcars in Davis County?

Party Lines: Should there be streetcars in Davis County?

by Rob Miller

Mar 25, 2010 | 105 views | 0  | 6  |  | 

My first thought on having streetcars in Davis County was, that would be pretty cool, but I need to be clear that this is an issue that I have not given much thought until the Clipper gave us this topic. So, to better understand the issue I visited several Bountiful and Centerville businesses and residents to get their thoughts. After my discussions with those who would be most affected by the current Main Street plan I have come to the conclusion that even as an advocate for public transportation I cannot endorse the current plan.

Although I know that there are advocates for the streetcar plan, the consensus of those I spoke with is that the current plan will not serve us well for several valid reasons.

Cost to Davis County Residents: The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) has determined that the cost of the “Davis Streetcar Project” is $411 to $473 million. That is a lot of money and my concern is this project doesn’t meet the Federal New Start funding requirement. If this project is not self sustaining we will see an increase in taxes and to that I am opposed.

Need to Davis County Residents: UTA has cut bus services to save $3 million. If we are indeed cutting bus services then why would we engage in a new project when we are indeed cutting the current bus service already in place? Bountiful is estimated to grow only at 3 percent to 2030, and Centerville will only see 8 percent growth during the same time period. I just don’t see that this project is necessary at that rate of growth.

Decreased Property Values for Davis Residents: Although UTA has stated that values will increase along the streetcar route I am suspect. Have homes near the FrontRunner increased? My best guess is that housing along the route will actually decrease over time. One thing we should be aware of is the fact that the UTA study is based on High Density Residential, General Commercial and Office uses to facilitate the proposed increase in ridership numbers. It may look good on paper, but we should also know that the UTA encouraged the cities involved to rezone properties on Main Street and that their conclusions come from building and housing that does not yet exist.

Safety, Crime and Congestion: If this system is built there will be safety issues with my greatest concern being that of children who are traveling to school during peak hours on foot or on their bikes and we need to understand that there are 11 school crossings on the proposed transit route.

Salt Lake City has already demonstrated a real crime problem at their “park and ride” lots, and there is a serious concern that this route will bring increased crime into the heart of Bountiful and Centerville.

And, if you have driven on Main Street in Salt Lake City lately then you will understand why I love living in Bountiful. Everything from North Salt Lake to Farmington is 10 minutes away by car. 

Party Lines: Should there be streetcars in Davis County?

by Todd Weiler

Mar 25, 2010 | 89 views | 0  | 1  |  | 

I am generally in favor of public transportation projects. Whenever I travel to New York or Washington, D.C., I go out of my way to ride the subway. I lived in Los Angeles for a couple of years with no viable transit options. I found it very disappointing.

I also use both FrontRunner and TRAX. In fact, I rode them both last week. I would definitely use the proposed streetcars. There are good reasons to invest in public transportation. Not only does it help the poor, elderly and disabled, it also promotes economic development and redevelopment. Anyone who is sick of sitting stuck in traffic should be in support of this project.

Projects like the proposed streetcars are a step in the right direction. One of our nation’s greatest national security vulnerabilities right now is our dependence on foreign oil. Since most of our imported oil comes from unstable parts of the world, we could be forced into unwanted wars, or even face fuel cutoffs like we had in the 1970s. As fuel prices rise, which long-term they inevitably will, more and more people will be looking for alternatives.

With a streetcar, you don’t have to keep your eyes on the road. You can read a book, talk to a new friend, or just sit back and relax. You don’t have to worry about anything because someone else is doing the driving. Streetcars are also better than buses, which sometimes can be difficult for people to understand where they go. People are more comfortable when they see the tracks so they know where they are going. In the 1920s, General Motors began to purchase streetcar systems and convert them to buses. The strategy worked. They knew that if you offered people buses, most would chose to buy a car instead.

As for cost concerns, the current dominance of roads is due to massive subsidization by the government. Highways also require an enormous amount of money to support.

Nothing about our current imbalance in transportation is a free market outcome. Gas taxes do not cover road expenses.

Both TRAX and FrontRunner allow passengers to board with bicycles. I understand that streetcars would as well. This gives people an enormous amount of flexibility in pedaling east or west to the transit corridor. That is what I do, and it offers the added benefit of a little exercise.

I understand that it is natural to fear change. Most of the same arguments against streetcars were used against light rail 10 years ago. By any reasonable standard, TRAX has been a huge success. I respect the opinion of those who disagree with me, but I think the streetcar idea has potential. Perhaps it should be put to a vote of the people before more taxpayer funds are expended.