Colorado Group Suing to Stop Denver Union Station project

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A rail advocacy group is Colorado is suing to stop the current plans for redevelopment of Union Station in Denver.

Rail group sues to block Union Station redevelopment

This is another case of transit agency having the blinders on and not taking into consideration the future including expansion of intercity rail.

Not only are they not taking others into consideration, they are hurting their own potential riders. People who ride the commuter rail from Denver International will have to walk two blocks to catch a light rail train to other parts of the city.

Several times I have ridden Amtrak into Union Station and caught a light rail train over to my motel which sits along side the Southeast light rail line. Now if I had to walk two blocks with my luggage would it just be easier to pay a cab?

At least here in Salt Lake you can catch a commuter train, TRAX and Amtrak in the same location although thanks to the westside NIMBY's it will not be possible to ride from the Airport directly to Central Station which is a downside. However, we know that developers usually come out ahead of good transportation planning...

Front Runner South Construction Update

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Greetings,

Construction is progressing on UTA’s FrontRunner South Provo to Salt Lake Commuter Rail line.

Below is the

FrontRunner South quick construction update for the week of December 5 - 12. For a more comprehensive construction update, click here.

For more construction information please call our toll-free 24-hour hotline at (888) 800-8854.

Area 16 — Downtown Salt Lake City to 4500 South (Murray)

Construction Activity: A lot of progress has been made with fiber optic relocations in Area 16 between Murray and Salt Lake City along the eventual FrontRunner trackway. Traffic Impacts: There are currently no traffic impacts in this area. Salt Lake Central Station: Station complete.

Area 15 — 4500 South (Murray) to 7800 South (Midvale)

Construction Activity: Significant progress has also been made with fiber optic relocations taking place in Area 15. Traffic Impacts: None. Murray-5300 South Station: No station construction activities to report.

Area 14 — 7800 South (Midvale) to Bangerter Highway (Draper/Bluffdale)

Construction Activity: Progress continues in Area 14 behind Salt Lake Community College’s campus at 9800 South as crews construct a bridge that flies over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. This is area where FrontRunner will move from the east side to the west side of the tracks. Crews have driven steel pile into the ground to build the base of this structure. Crews are also constructing a bridge adjacent to the current Union Pacific Railroad bridge at 144th South. We thank motorists in this area for their patience and support during construction in this area. Traffic Impacts: A temporary traffic light has been placed at 144th South and the Union Pacific Bridge to help with traffic flow in this area. South Jordan/Sandy Station: No station construction activities to report.

Area 13 — Bangerter Highway (Draper/Bluffdale) to Thanksgiving Point (Lehi)

Construction Activity: Crews continue to establish access in this area and prepare the site along the railroad corridor in Bluffdale and Lehi and throughout the Jordan Narrows. Excavation is currently taking place along the east side of the Jordan Narrows. Crews have started work on the South Jordan Canal in this area as well as embankment improvements. Traffic Impacts: Impacts to motorists should be minimal as work proceeds along the railroad right-of-way. Draper/Bluffdale Station: No station construction activities to report. Lehi Station: No station construction activities to report.

Area 12 — Thanksgiving Point (Lehi) to Main Street (American Fork)

Construction Activity: Construction will once again begin in this area around the first week of February. A lot of progress has already been made at the Lehi Park and Ride Lot near Thanksgiving Point. When construction resumes, crews will continue work at the park and ride lot and the pedestrian tunnel that will run underneath the Union Pacific trackway. Traffic Impacts: There are currently no impacts to motorists in this area. American Fork-Main St. Station: Currently construction is not taking place at this station.

Area 11 — Main Street (American Fork) to 800 South (Orem)

Construction Activity: Drainage improvements continue to take place along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks from Orem to American Fork. Third party utility work is also progressing north through this area. Traffic Impacts: There are currently no impacts to motorists in this area. Orem Station: No station construction activities to report.

Area 10 — 800 South (Orem) to Center Street (Provo)

Construction Activity: Significant progress has been made in Area 10 along the Union Pacific Railroad corridor between University Parkway in Orem and West Center Street in Provo as crews prepare a path for FrontRunner by grading and clearing the right-of-way and relocating water lines. Mainline duct bank installation also continues in Area 10. This duct bank will hold the fiber optics for the FrontRunner System. Traffic Impacts: Impacts to motorists are currently anticipated to be minimal as most work in this area is taking place along the rail corridor. Provo Station-University Ave. Station: No station construction activities to report.

Hobble Creek Wetlands Project — Springville, Utah

Description: Although FrontRunner’s terminus is located in Provo, crews have finished construction on a floodplain south of Provo in Springville, Utah, to offset wetlands impacts related to building commuter rail in Utah County. In cooperation with the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program and other agencies, this project was constructed adjacent to a new Hobble Creek channel which is a tributary to Utah Lake and will replace major wetlands functions and vegetation and provide a protected nursery habitat for newly hatched June sucker fish. For more information on this wetlands project, please visit UTA’s Web site at www.riduta.com. Click on the Programs tab and then Projects. Additional information can also be found at www.junesuckerrecovery.org. Construction Activity: Construction on this 21-acre site located between I -15 and Utah Lake in Springville, Utah, is completed. Crews will conduct a final walk through with all stakeholder agencies to ensure project goals have been met. Ribbon Cutting Event: On November 12, 2008, the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program hosted a ribbon cutting event to celebrate the completion of the Hobble Creek Wetlands Project.

Mid Jordan TRAX line construction update

Image via WikipediaMid-Jordan Light Rail TRAX Construction Update: December 10, 2008*

Please forward this information on to others that would be interested.

*This schedule is subject to change due to weather, materials issues, or unanticipated utility conflicts.



Bangerter Bridge



Activity: Crews have removed the median barrier in the area of approximately 8700 South and Bangerter Highway (just south of the Old Bingham Highway overpass). The median has been replaced with water barrels and will remain closed through December.



Sugar Factory Area



Activity: Construction of sound walls along rail corridor right-of-way between approximately 2500 West and 2200 West began on November 17th and will continue through December.



Activity: Utility work is currently ongoing. Traffic Impacts: Shoulder work with possible lane restrictions.



Old Bingham Area



Activity: Crews will be working on the at-grade crossing on Wasatch Meadows Drive at the railroad tracks. Traffic Impacts: Wasatch Meadows Drive will be closed at the trackway near Old Bingham Highway from December 8th through December 15th.



Activity: Utility work is currently ongoing. Traffic Impacts: Shoulder work with possible lane restrictions.



Gardner Village Area



UPDATED Activity: Crews are working on the new bridge construction at 7800 South near Gardner Village. Traffic Impacts: Eastbound traffic will be shifted to the north side of the roadway December 1st through December 19th.



Activity: Access to Gardner Village from the Jordan River Parkway Trail is closed until August 2009.



Activity: Construction on the Jordan River TRAX bridge. Traffic Impacts: A temporary detour began the week of October 13th on the Jordan River Parkway Trail near approximately 7500 South. The trail will be intermittently detoured through August 2009. Please be aware that the detour does cross a live railway track, and as such, the detour will be closed daily from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. when freight is actively running on the track. Please plan accordingly.



Activity: Grading and utility work is currently ongoing. Traffic Impacts: Shoulder closures with possible lane restrictions.



Cottonwood Area



NEW Activity: Crews will be performing utility work on 300 West between Winchester Street and the I-215 overpass. Traffic Impacts: 300 West will be closed at the I-215 overpass, and business access will be available from 6100 South. The timeline for this work is dependent on several variables, but work is expected to last one day and will take place on Wednesday, December 17th, Thursday, December 17th, or Friday, December 19th. Please use State Street or 700 West as detour routes. Detour signs will be posted.



NEW Activity: Concrete work on Winchester Street, within 1000 feet east and west of Cottonwood Street. Traffic Impacts: Winchester Street will be restricted to one lane with flagging operations during daytime hours. Please use State Street or 700 West as alternate routes.



UPDATED Activity: New railroad bridge construction over Winchester Street next to the existing railroad bridge, located approximately 1000 feet west of Cottonwood Street. Traffic Impacts: Winchester Street will be closed between 520 West and Cottonwood Street beginning December 1st at 7:00 a.m. through December 12th at 5:00 p.m. Please use 7200 South as a detour. Detour signs will be posted.



UPDATED Activity: Construction on Cottonwood Street began on September 2nd and will continue through December. Traffic Impacts: Two-way traffic has been re-established on the west side of the street. Paving and curb and gutter has been completed on the east side of the street and crews are working on sidewalk and driveways through December.



If you have any questions or concerns regarding the project, please let me know.



Sarah Loughlin

Community Involvement Specialist

Utah Transit Authority

801-236-4783

sloughlin@rideuta.com

Blog Entries of Note...

Image via WikipediaFrom the Bike Utah Valley Blog comes:

Are You Green?

I have pointed out before, highway supporters always try to demonize transit supporters by calling them anti-car and the like. I am not anti-car, in fact I can see a bright future for the auto industry even if more people switched to transit but it would take a change of attitude of some executives in the auto industry.

From the Mobilizing the Region Blog:

NYC Comptroller: Car Fees Could Raise $1B for Transit

Proposal to charge an annual fee in addition to the regular state license fees for vehicles. The fees would also charge more for bigger vehicles such as large SUV's.

What We’re Thankful For in 2008

Here in Utah we have a lot to be thankful for this year. We have several new TOD projects going up, we have seen groundbreaking on all the new transit lines except the Draper extension, we had the grand opening of Front Runner along with the TRAX extension to Central Station. People in this region have a lot to be thankful for.

From the California High Speed Rail blog:

Biden Calls for Rail Investment

It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few months. During the current administration we defiantly saw a move away from new rail projects despite the voters in many states (including here in Utah) with their wallets by supporting rail transit.

Electric Stimuli

The benefits of electrifying rail lines.

From the Track Twenty Nine Blog:

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet

A Subway for the Prairie

The Track Twenty Nine blog gives a brief glimpse into the Caltrain commuter rail service between San Jose and San Francisco plus the Edmonton Light Rail line.

From the Transit Miami Blog:

Dolphin Ricky Williams Waxes Nostalgic For Toronto’s Rich Urbanism

Interesting that a NFL player misses the urban living of Toronto where he could actually walk to everything.

From the Trains for America Blog:

Will the election of Obama change anything when it comes to our transportation priorities? The Trains in America blog seems to feel that nothing is going to change.

From the Overhead Wire Blog:

On Systems Efficiency

Perhaps I Have Had Too Much Hope

Another blog posting that questions whether we will get any true change from the up coming administration or will it be more of the same.

From Streetsblog:

Will Transit, Bikes, and Peds Get a Stimulus We Can Believe In?

More discussion on what President Elect Obama will do with his Stimulus package and if it is going to be auto centric.

From the Sprawled Out Blog:

New crisis means new rules for community development

We all know that all of the new developments in our area are dependent on chains. While now that dependency is biting many in the butt now. Many of the so called big boys are struggling this year and closings are way up. Is it time to start giving incentives for locally owned business like the big boys get?

From the Seattle Transit Blog:

City Council Panel Approves Streetcar Plan

Seattle comes closer to approving expansion of its short streetcar line.

From the RT Rider Blog comes:

Street-level commerce

John compares Sacramento street level where he lives to the Oakland street life where he works.

Image via Wikipedia

Greetings,

Construction is progressing on UTA’s FrontRunner South Provo to Salt Lake Commuter Rail line. Below is the FrontRunner South quick construction

update for the week of November 15. For a more comprehensive construction update, click here.

For more construction information please call our toll-free 24-hour hotline at (888) 800-8854.

Area 16 — Downtown Salt Lake City to 4500 South (Murray)

Construction Activity: A lot of progress has been made with fiber optic relation in Area 16 between Murray and Salt Lake City along the eventual FrontRunner trackway. Traffic Impacts: There are currently no traffic impacts in this area. Salt Lake Central Station: Station complete.

Area 15 — 4500 South (Murray) to 7800 South (Midvale)

Construction Activity: Significant progress has also been made with fiber optic relocations taking place in Area 15. It is anticipated that the fiber optic relocation work is more than 50% complete in this area. Traffic Impacts: None. Murray-5300 South Station: No station construction activities to report.

Area 14 — 7800 South (Midvale) to Bangerter Highway (Draper/Bluffdale)

Construction Activity: Progress continues in Area 14 behind Salt Lake Community College’s campus at 9800 South in anticipation for work on a flyover bridge to be built in this area. Crews are currently driving steel pile into the ground and are building the base of this structure. Traffic Impacts: There are no traffic impacts to report at this time. South Jordan/Sandy Station: No station construction activities to report.

Area 13 — Bangerter Highway (Draper/Bluffdale) to Thanksgiving Point (Lehi)

Construction Activity: Crews continue to establish access in this area and prepare the site along the railroad corridor in Bluffdale and Lehi and throughout the Jordan Narrows. Excavation is currently taking place along the east side of the Jordan Narrows. Crews have started work on the South Jordan Canal in this area as well as embankment improvements. Mainline earthwork is expected to begin at the end of November. Traffic Impacts: Impacts to motorists should be minimal as work proceeds along the railroad right-of-way. Draper/Bluffdale Station: No station construction activities to report. Lehi Station: No station construction activities to report.

Area 12 — Thanksgiving Point (Lehi) to Main Street (American Fork)

Construction Activity: Extensive excavation work has taken place at the Lehi Park and Ride Lot near Thanksgiving Point as crews have completed clearing and grubbing the area and have started work on drainage improvements. Construction is also taking place along the rail corridor in this area just south of 11000 North in Lehi. Crews are also beginning to construct a pedestrian tunnel underneath the Union Pacific trackway that leads to the eventual park and ride lot at Thanksgiving Point. Traffic Impacts: There are currently no impacts to motorists in this area. American Fork-Main St. Station: A temporary entrance has been established at this station so work can proceed.

Area 11 — Main Street (American Fork) to 800 South (Orem)

Construction Activity: Drainage improvements are currently taking place along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks from Orem to American Fork. The majority of drainage activities in this area are completed. Third party utility work is also progressing north through this area. Mainline earthwork is expected to begin the beginning of November. Traffic Impacts: There are currently no impacts to motorists in this area. Orem Station: No station construction activities to report.

Area 10 — 800 South (Orem) to Center Street (Provo)

Construction Activity: A lot of progress is being made in Area 10 along the Union Pacific Railroad corridor between University Parkway in Orem and West Center Street in Provo. Crews continue to prepare a path for FrontRunner by grading and clearing the right-of-way and relocating water lines. Since an additional track is being constructed for FrontRunner to operate on, any existing box culvert or waterway must be extended under the newly built trackway. Mainline duct bank installation also continues in Area 10. This duct bank will hold the fiber optics for the FrontRunner System. Crews have removed old railroad ties and rail all the way from 500 West in Provo to University Parkway in Orem. Old materials removed from this area are either reused or recycled. Traffic Impacts: Impacts to motorists are currently anticipated to be minimal as most work in this area is taking place along the rail corridor. Provo Station-University Ave. Station: No station construction activities to report.

Hobble Creek Wetlands Project — Springville, Utah

Description: Although FrontRunner’s terminus is located in Provo, crews have finished construction on a floodplain south of Provo in Springville, Utah, to offset wetlands impacts related to building commuter rail in Utah County. In cooperation with the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program and other agencies, this project was constructed adjacent to a new Hobble Creek channel which is a tributary to Utah Lake and will replace major wetlands functions and vegetation and provide a protected nursery habitat for newly hatched June sucker fish. For more information on this wetlands project, please visit UTA’s Web site at www.riduta.com. Click on the Programs tab and then Projects. Additional information can also be found at www.junesuckerrecovery.org. Construction Activity: Construction on this 21-acre site located between I -15 and Utah Lake in Springville, Utah, is completed. Crews have accomplished extensive excavation of the site to prepare a stream for the eventual release of the endangered June Sucker fish. The stream located to the north of this site is anticipated to be cutover the last week of October 2008. Ribbon Cutting Event: On November 12, 2008, the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program hosted a ribbon cutting event to celebrate the completion of the Hobble Creek Wetlands Project.

Area 12 – Crews are driving steel pile into the ground to form the main foundations for a bridge near Salt Lake Community College at 9800 South.

General Construction Information

Access during Construction

UTA is committed to maintaining access to all of the businesses and residences along the construction corridor.

Construction Hours

Construction on the project is permitted to take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday each week.

Additionally, specific activities may require different working hours depending upon the conditions and will be coordinated with city officials.

Thanks again for your interest in the FrontRunner South project. If you have construction related questions, please

call our 24-hour construction hotline number at 1-888-800-8854. If you have specific questions about the

FrontRunner South project, my contact information is listed below. To unsubscribe, please click here.

Regards,

Marc Bowman
UTA Community Involvement Specialist
www.rideuta.com
801.236.4784