Salt Lake City leaders seeking federal funds for downtown streetcar system
Group says government recently has shown support for similar projects across the country
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."
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 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."
e-mail: jpage@desnews.com
No comments:
Post a Comment