CYCLOPS - Davis County Clipper April 8, 2010

CLOPS: Davis rail shouldn’t be opposed to using scare tactics

by Bryan Gray

Apr 08, 2010 | 668 views | 4  | 7  |  | 

Bryan Gray

As readers know, I’m not a fan of the Utah Transit Authority. The organization is top-heavy in executive pay and sets prices too high to achieve an effective ridership for FrontRunner trains.

I’m also opposed to UTA’s attempt to bring light rail trains to Centerville and Bountiful Main Streets. However, I’m appalled at one of the reasons given for opposing UTA – and it says something about the changing nature of society.

I agree that light rail in Davis County is a frivolous expense of tax dollars. There’s not a crying need for residents in Centerville to have another public transit option to downtown Bountiful. Cars, buses, and even bikes fill that nonexistent “need”. Construction would also harm local businesses; many would never recover from the lost sales from tearing up an already narrow street.

But rational thought wasn’t good enough for some light rail detractors. One of the ringleaders opposed to the UTA plan bellowed out a dire warning at a demonstration last week: light rail in Centerville and Bountiful would attract an undesirable element, ushering in a potential crime wave to the good citizens of southern Davis County - the trains loaded with unsavory characters. To hear this guy, our children wouldn’t be safe from invaders from the hinterlands.

How silly! How narrow-minded! Bringing buses into a neighborhood doesn’t translate to a crime wave. TRAX trains are not the chosen transportation for would-be rapists, drug peddlers, and kidnappers.

Idiots like this guy make Rocky Anderson appear sane and stable!

And his comments represent fears so many parents pass on to their children: Be afraid of others who don’t look like you or don’t have the same beliefs…Stay in your room and play computer games; beware of social contact.

Essayist Garrison Keillor mourned the loss of traditional childhood in his newspaper column last week. “Children don’t wander free and mess around in vacant lots the way we used to…One worries about a certain loss of verve and nerve among the young who have been under constant supervision for too long.”

As a young boy, I took buses from my suburban home to Salt Lake’s downtown; for “baseball card money” I delivered errands in back alleys and downtown streets. I didn’t take unreasonable risks; I was aware of my surroundings. But neither did I worry that every stranger was a sexual predator.

My friends and I walked for miles in pursuit of “adventures”. It gave us a foundation of independence. It enabled us to think for ourselves. When we shared stories that evening with our parents, they weren’t worried or preoccupied that we might be meeting people from different neighborhoods.

Granted, life is more challenging today. But that doesn’t mean we should place ourselves or our children in a cocoon. Kids grow up when they can explore and personal growth is hard to achieve when you have adults engaging in scare tactics and fear-mongering. 

Read more: Davis County Clipper - CYCLOPS Davis rail shouldn’t be opposed to using scare tactics 

Outcry Over UTA Salaries Growing Louder - KSL - April 19, 2010

Outcry over UTA salaries growing louder

April 19th, 2010 @ 6:05pm

By John Daley

SALT LAKE CITY -- Salaries for executives at the Utah Transit Authority are among the top in the nation.

The CEO and other top administrators at the agency are slated to take on new responsibilities and new titles. While their compensation will remain the same*, there are growing concerns about that pay, which equals or tops their counterparts in much larger cities.

The highest paid state employee at $496,700 is Richard Spencer, Clinical Director for the Dept. of Human Services. -UtahsRight.com

UTA is considering a reshuffle of its top executives. The highest salaries are $339,000 for the man in its top job, John Inglish, and in the range of a quarter million each for his two lieutenants. Critics of those numbers are not mincing words.

"I just think it's appalling," says Barbara Toomer, with the Disabled Rights Action Committee. "I go back to the fact that it's my money. It's my sales tax money. It's my federal tax money. It's my state tax money. It's money that belongs to the people of the state of Utah, and we're paying for this guy to make more money than our governor is."

Top UTA Salaries
Name	Position	Salary
John Inglish	General Manager & CEO	$339,179
Michael Allegra	Asst General Manager/CCDO	$250,940
Bruce T Jones	General Counsel	$237,752
Kenneth D Montague	Chief Financial Officer	$202,821
Jerry R Benson	Chief Operating Officer	$188,804

Source: UtahsRight.com

"I'm very troubled by them. It's incomprehensible to me how UTA can justify these exorbitant salaries, especially in the economic times we're faced with," says Rep. Janice Fisher, D-West Valley City.

But UTA leaders say the salaries are reasonable and competitive with other transit agencies regionally and non-profits nationally. They say with UTA's dramatic growth, it pays to keep seasoned hands on board.

"You look at other salaries throughout businesses and organizations, and I think if people would look at those and be astounded -- in terms of being much more than we are here," says Larry Ellertson, chairman of the UTA Board of Trustees.

KSL News contacted transit agencies around the country and found UTA's top salary easily tops the No. 1 salary in Chicago, Vegas, Phoenix, Washington D.C., Denver and San Francisco.

Salaries of Transit CEOs/GMs in other states
City	Salary	Daily ridership
New York City	$350,000	8.7 million
UTA	$339,000	143,000
San Francisco	$308,000	672,000
Denver	$306,000	331,121
Chicago	$196,000	1.7 million

New York City's top transit executive makes $350,000 overseeing a system with nearly 9 million riders daily and an $11 billion budget. That dwarfs UTA's 143,000 daily ridership and $180 million budget.

"I would say the board is comfortable with these numbers at this point," Ellertson says.

As for UTA General Manager John Inglish, he says he's fine with his and other top salaries as well.

"I am comfortable with it, yes," Inglish says. "I think the public is entitled to best management and leadership that be provided."

According to a website that tracks salaries in Utah, UTA's top job is higher than nearly every other non-medical public employee. Also, Inglish's salary tops his counterpart at the Utah Department of Transportation by more than $100,000 and is three times what the governor makes.

UTA's board will vote on the new salaries April 28.

E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com

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*Editors note: In an earlier version of this story, KSL incorrectly reported that UTA officials would be receiving raises. This script has been corrected to show that their compensations will remain the same.

96 Percent Oppose Streetcars - Davis County Clipper - April 8, 2010

96 percent oppose streetcars

Apr 08, 2010 | 143 views | 0  | 2  |  | 

BOUNTIFUL — Some 96 percent of residents surveyed by the Preservation for Main Street Committee are opposed to a “rail system” or streetcar option. An article in last week’s Clipper said 96 residents were opposed.

That’s according to information provided by the group fighting against the option being studied by UTA for Bountiful’s Main Street. The committee contacted 450 residents. The survey and a demonstration early last week were part of a grassroots effort to show opposition to a streetcar option for Main Street. UTA accepted public comment until March 31.

Centerville Mixed Use Project? - Davis County Clipper April 1, 2010

Centerville seeks CDA for big development

by Jenniffer Wardell

Apr 01, 2010 | 32 views | 0  | 1  |  | 

CENTERVILLE — The city’s 14-screen megaplex and mixed use project is moving forward, though Centerville officials are looking for partners in a community development agreement (CDA) that will help speed the process along.

City officials and staff are currently setting up meetings with the county, the school district, and other local taxing entities to ask for their involvement in a CDA that will temporarily reduce the amount of property taxes the developers have to pay once construction on the project goes vertical. If those agreements can be reached and the developer completes all the steps required by Centerville, construction on the mixed-use project may start as early as this summer.

“If we get the approvals in April, the developers have said that they want to break ground as early as this June,” said Centerville City Manager Steve Thacker, adding that the estimate might be a bit optimistic because of the approvals still required by the planning commission. “We’ll have to see if everything falls into place.”

The CDA won’t take any money currently being received by any of the local taxing entities, and they would still get 70 percent of any new property taxes generated by the area for the next 15 years. Centerville, which has already signed the agreement, would only receive 50 percent of any new property taxes. The money saved by the reduced property taxes would be put toward infrastructure improvements in the area.

The current plan for the project includes multi-family units, a shopping component, and a 80,000 square foot, 14-screen megaplex theater that Thacker said will be run by the Larry H. Miller group.

Though another 14-screen theater is set to anchor the Station Park development in Farmington, run by the Cinemark theater group, no one behind the Centerville development is worried.

“The Larry H. Miller group has told us that they’re not concerned about Station Park,” said Thacker, adding that the Centerville theater will be larger than the one planned for Farmington. “The theater component up there will simply be a very small part of a much larger project.”

jwardell@davisclipper.com

Bountiful Main Street Rally - Davis County Clipper April 1, 2010

Vocal crowd gathers for rally against streetcars

by Tom Busselberg

Apr 01, 2010 | 1 views | 0  | 0  |  | 

RESIDENTS gather on Bountiful’s Main Street for a rally opposing the streetcar plan.

BOUNTIFUL — More than 100 people made for a lively Main Street, Monday evening.

They were voicing opposition to a potential streetcar running from Salt Lake City to Centerville. That was just days before the March 31 deadline to receive public comment on a first round South Davis transportation study.

“We want to send a strong message to UTA and Bountiful city officials that rail on Main Street is not the public’s preferred option,” said Cecilee Price-Huish, “I Love Main Street” rally organizer.

“The Main Street district is home to many unique, long-standing, family-owned businesses and plays host to our most important community events. We do not want to see the integrity of Main Street destroyed with a light rail system.”

Concerns voiced during the rally included project cost, estimated at up to $473 million, the potential for increased sales taxes, a potential decrease in property values, and higher crime.

Pedestrian safety was also addressed. There are 11 schools within a quarter mile of the Main Street route.

Nothing has been finalized, emphasized Bountiful Mayor Joe Johnson last week during an informal comment period.

However, tentative routes mentioned so far have it running from the intermodal hub in downtown Salt Lake City along Beck Street to U.S. 89 to Bountiful’s Main Street, ending at Main and Center Streets in Centerville. A bus connection would take passengers to Farmington Station.

“We are not against public transportation, said Preservation for Main Street (Bountiful) Committee Co-Chair Verlon Duncan. “We are just against the rail system option.

“We need to be better utilizing the FrontRunner and making it more accessible,” he said. “The committee supports the Enhanced Bus Service option of the UTA proposal, but without the Park and Ride lots,” he said.

Results of a Preservation for Main Street Committee showed that of 450 residents contacted, 96 oppose the rail option, with 82 percent of 70 Main Street businesses also against it.

To concerns raised by the group that the area’s population doesn’t justify a streetcar, Johnson said, “If you take the six cities in South Davis, there are (currently) about 94,000 people.”

In a separate Clipper interview, Bountiful City Planner Aric Jensen elaborated on what the mayor has said previously in support of a Main Street option.

Jensen said there are already several senior housing facilities on Main, from Heritage Place on the south to Avalon and Village on Main on the north. And as the influx of “baby boomers” progresses, there will only be more demand for such facilities.

Disabled people also like streetcars, because they are a set route vs. buses, that can change routes, he said.

At the council meeting, Johnson said it could be decades before a streetcar or other option is built, if ever.

UTA would operate any such line. Spokesman Gerry Carpenter estimated Wednesday morning that “over 1,000 comments” have been received from the public about the proposal.

About one in eight comments have been supportive of the streetcar option, he said. “There are definitely two sides to the issue. It’s definitely a very vocal, outspoken group who oppose any sort of retail option in Centerville, primarily, and also Bountiful.

“There is no funding, no officially adopted alterative at this point,” Carpenter emphasized. “We’re really just looking for comments on the draft version of the EIS of the draft report.”

He said those comments and concerns “will be addressed in the final version.” Under a federal alternative analysis process, “additional alternatives will be reviewed in greater detail.

“We look at relocating rail to another alignment, or combined rail, bus, or just enhanced bus service” as part of that process, the UTA spokesman said.

“Cost, ridership and environmental impact” will be considered, as well, he said, adding: “The next goal is to see what we can to move forward funding something. There is no clear funding path at this point; no decision point in the near future.”

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. 

"I Love Main Street" - Bountiful Residents To Hold Rally

Anti-streetcar group to hold rally

Mar 25, 2010 | 58 views | 0  | 2  |  | 

BOUNTIFUL — An “I Love Main Street” rally to protest UTA’s streetcar plan will be held March 29 at 7 p.m. at the Bountiful University of Utah Extension east parking lot (between 100 S. and 200 South), off Main.

Participants are asked to wear green and white, as well as bring balloons and posters expressing support for local businesses and Historic Main Street’s character. An example of the kind of poster rally organizers are looking for is “Citizens for Enhanced Bus Service with Park and Ride Lots.”

The group organizing the rally is also mailing post cards to every property owner in Bountiful explaining the three options for Main Street that UTA has proposed, the group’s concerns, and how to access the project’s public comments site.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com

Main St. Plan Doesn't Push Streetcars - Davis County Clipper - March 25, 2010

Main St. plan doesn’t push streetcars

by Jenniffer Wardell

Mar 25, 2010 | 60 views | 0  | 2  |  | 

CENTERVILLE — City officials would like to emphasize that Centerville’s Main Street Plan doesn’t say a thing about streetcars.

Centerville Community Development Director Cory Snyder reviewed the plan during a recent work session, emphasizing to the gathered residents that the plan simply states that mass transit of some kind would be good for Main Street only if it didn’t widen the already existing road.

The mayor and city council sent a letter to UTA earlier this week emphasizing that city officials had not expressed a preference for a certain type of transit option.

“I think many of our residents are getting the idea that the city is pushing the streetcar plan, but that is definitely not the case,” said Centerville City Manager Steve Thacker, specifying that the streetcars are UTA’s idea. “The plan states that we think public transit is important on Main Street, but only if it could be done within the existing roadway. We never specify a certain type of mass transit.”

Though the plan was already approved by the city council in 2007, city officials will hold an open house and public hearing on the plan sometime in the next few months.

“We’re reopening the issue for public comment if people want to weigh in,” said Thacker. “We want to make sure everyone has the opportunity.”

The Centerville Main Street Master Plan was designed to give city officials general guidelines on future development in the area. Though the specific changes will differ depending on which area of Main Street a new building is being built, the general thrust of the proposed plan and zoning changes include less parking and landscaping for new buildings and greater flexibility in potential use.

jwardell@davisclipper.com

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

Centerville's Leaders Respond To The Draft ESR