Wasatch Front Regional Council - Part 2?

Apparently we are not following the plan! We're not doing it correctly!

From the "Wasatch Front Regional Transportation Plan 2007-2030," p. 140:

"South Davis Line (Centerville) – A regional level transit BRT II should be constructed from Parrish Lane in Centerville to the intersection of about 400 South and State Street in Salt Lake City.  This service would provide a direct connection between the activity centers in much of southern Davis County with each other, with downtown Salt Lake City, and with the regional transit system which is focused upon downtown Salt Lake.  The programmed 

construction cost for this project is about $96 million in 2007 value dollars.  Another $30 million in 2007 value dollars is anticipated to upgrade this project in the third phase. This project was in the 2030 LRP Update three years ago although the suggested alignment was modified in Centerville to run on Main Street rather than 200 West. 

From the "Wasatch Front Regional Transportation Plan 2007-2030," p. 142: 

"South Davis (Farmington) Line - A regional level transit enhanced bus line should be constructed from the north end of Lagoon Amusement Park to Parrish Lane. This would provide greater amenities to transit patrons traveling north within southern Davis County to downtown Farmington public services, to the Farmington FrontRunner Station, a proposed mixed-use development near that station, and to Lagoon Amusement Park.  The programmed construction cost for this project is about $9 million in 2007 value dollars.  The project was in the 2030 LRP Update three years ago as a BRT II and remains in the 2030 RTP as an Enhanced Bus." 

Wasatch Front Regional Council?

I have been reading lately from the website of the Wasatch Front Regional Council. These are the guys that really know what is going on. They make plans for the Wasatch Front and it's highways and transit systems. By the way, you can find them at: http://www.wfrc.org/cms/. 

On May 24, 2007, they adopted the "Wasatch Front Regional Transportation Plan 2007-2030." I haven't read the entire document, but one aspect that I found interesting, there is no recommendation for any fixed rail transit in Davis County other than FrontRunner. Now, this is from the holy grail of transportation documents. This publication discusses roads, highways, buses, enhanced and rapid buses, bicycle trails, park and ride lots, trains, light rail, streetcars, population patterns, etc. I think this document knows our travel plans for the summer!

Use the following link to look at the "2030 RTP Transit Project Type" map: 

http://www.wfrc.org/cms/rtp_amendments/April_2009/RTP%20Transit%20Projects%2028Aug08.pdfU

The recommendation for South Davis County is bus transportation! 

Maybe I will buy one of the books that contain this "plan" and give it to the UTA. They must have lost their copy. 

Centerville City News

I received my copy of the Centerville City News today. The front page article is entitled, "South Davis Transit Study." It was written by Mayor Russell. The concluding sentence states, "It is difficult to predict where are economy may go or what our transit needs may be in the future, but for now let's move on and talk about other issues."


I thought the Mayor explained the current status of things fairly well. However, I did have a couple of thoughts. It is true that future economic conditions are hard to predict. And the uncertainly is elevated significantly because of the current administration in Washington that is doing everything possible to prolong the economic downturn we are experiencing. But this much we do know, with 8% growth coming to Centerville and 3% to Bountiful over the next 30 years (remember, that represents 4% of the growth in the transit study area), with current ridership on bus transit that is at best characterized as low, and with existing rail transit running well below capacity and expectations, the need for a another rail line will NEVER exist. Maybe, Mr. Russell, that's why the citizens of this community continue to talk about this issue. They don't want rail tracks on Main Street and are waiting for their leaders to acknowledge what they already know.

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