Due to Outcry, UTA Rethinking South Davis Transit Corridor - Davis County Clipper Article May 25, 2010

Due to outcry, UTA rethinking S. Davis transit corridor

by Melinda Williams

May 25, 2010 | 347 views | 1  | 5  |  | 

CENTERVILLE — Public outcry over the proposed south Davis transit corridor has caused the Utah Transit Authority to go back to the drawing board and rethink its plans.

The agency’s goal however, remains to improve mass transit in the community through 2030.

UTA spokesman Gerry Carpenter said after the draft Environmental Impact Statement was released, UTA received some 2,000 comments, most of which were in opposition to the plan which would run a streetcar from 200 South in Salt Lake City, along U.S. 89, State road 106 and then along Main Street to Parrish Lane in Farmington. From there, enhanced bus service would carry riders into Farmington.

Because of the overwhelming response, the agency extended the comment period by two weeks.

“In this case, we received a much greater volume of comment than we typically do,” Carpenter said, and those comments showed the planned alignment to be very controversial, especially through Centerville,” he said.

UTA is now in the process of going through each comment. Once the comments have been read, they will be posted on the agency’s website. That may not be for a month or two, Carpenter said. The agency plans on responding to the comments, a time consuming process.

After analyzing the comments, an evaluation is planned to look at different alignments, perhaps along 200 West or 500 West, or a different combination of modes of transportation, Carpenter said.

Carpenter said despite the poor reception the plan received, the work done on the draft EIS was not wasted. “It was an important step in the process. There was a lot of good interaction,” that came out of the public hearings held on the plan. “It’s important to understand that unless we give them something to respond to, they can’t respond,” he said.

At public hearings held in Centerville and Bountiful in March, residents were adamant they didn’t want a streetcar system built down Main Street. Residents said they believe the system would wreck the quality of life, cost too much and create safety issues for residents whose homes and businesses front Main Street.

They also took issue with a UTA study which indicated by 2030, some 14,700 riders would use the line daily.

Even though UTA is re-evaluating its plans, “In a lot of ways things haven’t changed,” Carpenter said. “There is still no clear funding source,” for either the re-evaluation or a transit system when plans are finalized. UTA is currently working on getting funding for the evaluation process.

Carpenter said UTA wants to work with the community in coming up with a viable transit plan.

mwilliams@davisclipper.com