I hope everyone has a safe and warm (for those of us in very cold Salt Lake) New Year.
I hope you enjoyed 2007 with Transit in Utah and we have more coming in 2008.
The photo is another one of the Barcelona Streetcar. Notice how well the streetcar blends in and the grassy right of way. This is design at its best.
See you next year.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Fares going up...
Don' t forget that UTA fares will be going up on New Years Day. Oh wait fares will be going up for everyone but ski bus riders on Wednesday since there is not service on Tuesday except the ski buses.
Base fare will go from $1.60 to $1.75.
Happy New Year!!
Base fare will go from $1.60 to $1.75.
Happy New Year!!
Friday, December 28, 2007
The Future of Highways Circa 1958
It seems that this video has been popping up everywhere lately so I figured I would show you. This is a video showing what Walt Disney that the highways of the future would be like in 1958. You look at this video and you realize how far we have not come over the years. Basically automobiles and automobile travel has not changed in 50 years.
One of the favorite arguments of the anti-transit types is that rail is outdated. Of course this in itself is 1950's thinking. The truth is we have seen little changes in automobiles in the last 100 years. They have gotten bigger motors, more safety features but are essentially the same was when Henry Ford started rolling the Model T off the assembly line.
One of the favorite arguments of the anti-transit types is that rail is outdated. Of course this in itself is 1950's thinking. The truth is we have seen little changes in automobiles in the last 100 years. They have gotten bigger motors, more safety features but are essentially the same was when Henry Ford started rolling the Model T off the assembly line.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
UTA Wraps Brand New Bus
I walked out yesterday to get my mail when either the 307 or 320 flew by me on Van Winkle. It was one of the brand spanking new Gillig Advantage BRT look buses and I was disgusted to see that the bus had a full wrap on it.
Now anyone who has read my blog for long knows that I despise them because they are so anti-customer. Just try to look out of a wrapped window (go down to the June 25th entry).
Not only that, but they have wrapped a brand new bus. Transit systems such as the Spokane Transit Authority will wrap buses that need to be repainting because of the damage that can be done to the paint but I guess UTA doesn't care about our expensive capital resources enough.
Now anyone who has read my blog for long knows that I despise them because they are so anti-customer. Just try to look out of a wrapped window (go down to the June 25th entry).
Not only that, but they have wrapped a brand new bus. Transit systems such as the Spokane Transit Authority will wrap buses that need to be repainting because of the damage that can be done to the paint but I guess UTA doesn't care about our expensive capital resources enough.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Pedestrain Friendly Streets
How often do you try to cross some of our streets here in the Salt Lake region? If the answer is even infrequently you know the dangers that lurk in our crosswalks. First of all you face the right turn drivers that do not pay attention if there is any pedestrians in the street, and then you face making it all the way across our wide streets without getting hit by left turning drivers or right turning drivers.
To make things worse, while the signal cycles are even tight for someone like me who can walk fast, the cycles are deadly for a senior citizen or anyone else who can't walk fast. As our population ages this will become an even greater issue.
Sadly it seems that most of the street planners feel that if they slap some haphazard sidewalks along side the street and place your token crosswalks they are set. The sad truth is that most of the people designing our roads have no idea how to design things for pedestrians. Our streets are designed for cars and that is it.
Now take a look at the picture of State Street. How can it be made safer for pedestrians to cross? First of all because of the extreme width of our roads there needs to be pedestrian medians installed in the center of the road. This will allow slower people to make it half way without taking their life into their own hands by having to make it all the way. In the median you would have additional pedestrian lights and the push to walk buttons were appropriate.
More pedestrian friendly cities have these so called "pedestrian medians" or "escape zones" even on narrow streets with one or two lanes in each direction. It is an extra measure of safety to protect pedestrians.
Another element of safety will be flashing lights at the corner warning drivers to check for pedestrians. Some would argue that this would detract drivers even more, but with drivers being too busy talking on their cell phones, listening to their i-pods, doing their makeup and everything else they do in cars these days, pedestrians need every element of safety protection possible.
We need to rethink the way we design our streets.
To make things worse, while the signal cycles are even tight for someone like me who can walk fast, the cycles are deadly for a senior citizen or anyone else who can't walk fast. As our population ages this will become an even greater issue.
Sadly it seems that most of the street planners feel that if they slap some haphazard sidewalks along side the street and place your token crosswalks they are set. The sad truth is that most of the people designing our roads have no idea how to design things for pedestrians. Our streets are designed for cars and that is it.
Now take a look at the picture of State Street. How can it be made safer for pedestrians to cross? First of all because of the extreme width of our roads there needs to be pedestrian medians installed in the center of the road. This will allow slower people to make it half way without taking their life into their own hands by having to make it all the way. In the median you would have additional pedestrian lights and the push to walk buttons were appropriate.
More pedestrian friendly cities have these so called "pedestrian medians" or "escape zones" even on narrow streets with one or two lanes in each direction. It is an extra measure of safety to protect pedestrians.
Another element of safety will be flashing lights at the corner warning drivers to check for pedestrians. Some would argue that this would detract drivers even more, but with drivers being too busy talking on their cell phones, listening to their i-pods, doing their makeup and everything else they do in cars these days, pedestrians need every element of safety protection possible.
We need to rethink the way we design our streets.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Another Video from Dr. Shoup
Clarence from Streetfilms let me know that they have posted another film with Dr. Should that discuss parking.
Monday, December 24, 2007
UTA Moving toward Rail...
UTA is moving forward with rail
Article on how UTA is getting ready for major construction on rail lines.
Of course they always have to "balance" the article with someone who is still living in the dark ages and in this case it is Taylorsville mayor Russ Wall. He says he wants a more balanced approach with more roads.
Isn't it interesting that they could be calling for a more balanced approach when for the last 60 the highway men have been in charge?
Maybe Mr. Wall needs to look toward the way his own city is developing and realize that he and his cohorts in city government have created the problems they are facing. Just look at the poorly designed developments from 5400 South to Interstate 15 on Redwood Roads. Once again you have developments that increase traffic congestion not help with it. There is nothing in this area to encourage walking and not taking a car from one store to another.
I also wonder where Mr. Wall thinks that new roads will be built. Should they take tax producing properties and make more roads?
Article on how UTA is getting ready for major construction on rail lines.
Of course they always have to "balance" the article with someone who is still living in the dark ages and in this case it is Taylorsville mayor Russ Wall. He says he wants a more balanced approach with more roads.
Isn't it interesting that they could be calling for a more balanced approach when for the last 60 the highway men have been in charge?
Maybe Mr. Wall needs to look toward the way his own city is developing and realize that he and his cohorts in city government have created the problems they are facing. Just look at the poorly designed developments from 5400 South to Interstate 15 on Redwood Roads. Once again you have developments that increase traffic congestion not help with it. There is nothing in this area to encourage walking and not taking a car from one store to another.
I also wonder where Mr. Wall thinks that new roads will be built. Should they take tax producing properties and make more roads?
Housing trend incorporates Utah's history in suburban sprawl
Housing trend incorporates Utah's history in suburban sprawl
Article talking about the sprawl that is taking place in St. George and how it is affecting our ancient history.
While some headway is being made in preserving important pieces of history such as petroglyph's and pictographs development continues on. So long as developers do not have to pay the true cost of their developments, this will continue.
Some developers are incorporating the history into their developments which is a start.
Article talking about the sprawl that is taking place in St. George and how it is affecting our ancient history.
While some headway is being made in preserving important pieces of history such as petroglyph's and pictographs development continues on. So long as developers do not have to pay the true cost of their developments, this will continue.
Some developers are incorporating the history into their developments which is a start.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Video Being used by Bus Riders Union
As anyone who regularly reads my blog, you will know that I am opposed to the Bus Riders Union. In Los Angeles 10 years after the BRU won a court order to improve bus service, service is at an all time low and the only people who won were the lawyers who got rich and Eric Mann who was the head of the BRU with a salary close to John Inglish's. The BRU caused the MTA in Los Angeles to spend money it did not have, run routes that did not make sense, and keep fares artificially low.
While I was not happy with the changes that UTA made in some areas, we also have to recognize that the funding will only go so far.
The only way the BRU achieved what it did in Los Angeles was by race baiting and dealing with a board that more interested in scoring points than what was best for transportation.
Meanwhile our local BRU is trying to do the same here in Salt Lake City. They have this video being showed which is very interesting. First it is 19 minutes of bashing UTA but lets look at some of the issues:
1. Icy Driveway
-Sounds like a problem with the owner of their nursing facility not UTA's. If it is a problem talk to their landlord.
2. Narrow Sidewalk
-Once again how is this UTA's problem. They would not route a bus down a side street were these people are so what is the complaint to UTA here? While I agree that narrow sidewalk's are a problem, that problem rests with poor urban planning, not UTA.
3. Sidewalks not Shoveled
-This sounds like a problem for the city not UTA. How is UTA to blame for this?
4. Roots of a Tree Damaging Sidewalk
-Once again this is not a problem of UTA's it is a city problem
5. A Truck from an Auto Repair Shop Blocking the Road
-Once again this is a problem with the auto repair shop, not UTA. Maybe if they would nicely go and talk to the owner he would take care of the problem. Instead they will probably go in and threaten a lawsuit or something and just alienate the small business owner not win the owner over.
6. Complains that bus stop has grassy area in front of it. Sprinklers turned on in summer.
-Ok, here is a problem that UTA can deal with but it is not UTA's fault that a property owner turns on the sprinklers. What if they went in and talked nicely to the landlord and told them their problem?
7. Drivers come flying out of the Maverick parking lot that is on the corner.
-Can we once again say a city planning issue not UTA's fault. There is not much UTA can do abut having driveways near a bus stop.
Once you get to the end of the video you do see that the bus does come behind their building were an old bus stop was. OK, I see it is reasonable that a bus stop be reestablished there if it is safe, but they also want nite ride like the old 107 so they will not be shut in at night. Well that is a little more trickier isn't it. How much is it going to cost to restore the nite ride service? More importantly how much is it going to cost?
Here is the link to the video complaint:
BRU Video
Restoring the bus stop they complain about should not be a big problem after all, but restoring the nite ride would be extremely expensive. This is were the danger is. While I think UTA can do a better job with it routes instead of using the transit mentality of "no duplication" and create routes using a marketing matrix system, you cannot run routes into the night if they are getting only one, two or no riders.
As much as I depended on the old 124 when I lived in Sandy and worked to 10:00pm at night, the 124 was only carrying one or two people and many times no one. If I was still living in this apartment I would not have a night ride and would face an hour walk home. However, bus service cannot be justified when so few are using it. Otherwise we would have the massive bus cuts that Los Angeles area is now facing.
Now if we could get more people on the bus during the day, which would require a more marketable service, our bus service would be bring in enough revenue to justify the nite service. Until that time UTA cannot run a bunch of nite ride service with few to no riders.
While I was not happy with the changes that UTA made in some areas, we also have to recognize that the funding will only go so far.
The only way the BRU achieved what it did in Los Angeles was by race baiting and dealing with a board that more interested in scoring points than what was best for transportation.
Meanwhile our local BRU is trying to do the same here in Salt Lake City. They have this video being showed which is very interesting. First it is 19 minutes of bashing UTA but lets look at some of the issues:
1. Icy Driveway
-Sounds like a problem with the owner of their nursing facility not UTA's. If it is a problem talk to their landlord.
2. Narrow Sidewalk
-Once again how is this UTA's problem. They would not route a bus down a side street were these people are so what is the complaint to UTA here? While I agree that narrow sidewalk's are a problem, that problem rests with poor urban planning, not UTA.
3. Sidewalks not Shoveled
-This sounds like a problem for the city not UTA. How is UTA to blame for this?
4. Roots of a Tree Damaging Sidewalk
-Once again this is not a problem of UTA's it is a city problem
5. A Truck from an Auto Repair Shop Blocking the Road
-Once again this is a problem with the auto repair shop, not UTA. Maybe if they would nicely go and talk to the owner he would take care of the problem. Instead they will probably go in and threaten a lawsuit or something and just alienate the small business owner not win the owner over.
6. Complains that bus stop has grassy area in front of it. Sprinklers turned on in summer.
-Ok, here is a problem that UTA can deal with but it is not UTA's fault that a property owner turns on the sprinklers. What if they went in and talked nicely to the landlord and told them their problem?
7. Drivers come flying out of the Maverick parking lot that is on the corner.
-Can we once again say a city planning issue not UTA's fault. There is not much UTA can do abut having driveways near a bus stop.
Once you get to the end of the video you do see that the bus does come behind their building were an old bus stop was. OK, I see it is reasonable that a bus stop be reestablished there if it is safe, but they also want nite ride like the old 107 so they will not be shut in at night. Well that is a little more trickier isn't it. How much is it going to cost to restore the nite ride service? More importantly how much is it going to cost?
Here is the link to the video complaint:
BRU Video
Restoring the bus stop they complain about should not be a big problem after all, but restoring the nite ride would be extremely expensive. This is were the danger is. While I think UTA can do a better job with it routes instead of using the transit mentality of "no duplication" and create routes using a marketing matrix system, you cannot run routes into the night if they are getting only one, two or no riders.
As much as I depended on the old 124 when I lived in Sandy and worked to 10:00pm at night, the 124 was only carrying one or two people and many times no one. If I was still living in this apartment I would not have a night ride and would face an hour walk home. However, bus service cannot be justified when so few are using it. Otherwise we would have the massive bus cuts that Los Angeles area is now facing.
Now if we could get more people on the bus during the day, which would require a more marketable service, our bus service would be bring in enough revenue to justify the nite service. Until that time UTA cannot run a bunch of nite ride service with few to no riders.
public speaking terror
I have been asked to mention this and since Toastmasters has helped me in my public speaking I had no problem publicizing this event at the downtown library. This event is open to all and I urge everyone to come and overcome their fears of public speaking.
“How to Take the Terror Out of Talk
and Give a Great Speech”
Learn how to...
Give yourself permission to speak,
Overcome your fear and speak with confidence,
Organize your presentation, and much more.
January 15, 2008; 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Salt Lake City Public Library (Main Library)
210 East 400 South; Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 524-8200
Presented by Metro Toastmasters. Visit us at www.metrotm.org.
“How to Take the Terror Out of Talk
and Give a Great Speech”
Learn how to...
Give yourself permission to speak,
Overcome your fear and speak with confidence,
Organize your presentation, and much more.
January 15, 2008; 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Salt Lake City Public Library (Main Library)
210 East 400 South; Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 524-8200
Presented by Metro Toastmasters. Visit us at www.metrotm.org.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
California High Speed Rail...
This is a ten minute video from the California High Speed Rail project. I first saw this video in March at a meeting I attended in Los Angeles.
Is California ready for high speed rail? I personally am an advocate for upgrading the existing passenger train network and not spending the money on high speed. Our biggest problem with current rail passenger service is Amtrak itself. Amtrak has the same problems as many transit systems which fits since it's previous two CEO's were former transit managers.
Europe and Japan only created high speed rail lines when their existing lines went beyond capacity. While me may currently have issues with freight capacity, we do not have an issue with passenger trains being at capacity. However, if the voters of California vote for it then go for it.
I found the link to the video from the Capricious Commuter which is a Bay Area based blog.
Is California ready for high speed rail? I personally am an advocate for upgrading the existing passenger train network and not spending the money on high speed. Our biggest problem with current rail passenger service is Amtrak itself. Amtrak has the same problems as many transit systems which fits since it's previous two CEO's were former transit managers.
Europe and Japan only created high speed rail lines when their existing lines went beyond capacity. While me may currently have issues with freight capacity, we do not have an issue with passenger trains being at capacity. However, if the voters of California vote for it then go for it.
I found the link to the video from the Capricious Commuter which is a Bay Area based blog.
Ridership lower than counted on TRAX
New TRAX passenger tracking system shows ridership lower than thought
The anti-transit types will be jumping on this article. UTA overestimated TRAX ridership because it was doing manual counting instead of computer generated counting.
What should be noted here is that ridership is still ahead of projections and doing well. Even in the off peak periods trains have many people on them.
While this is another one of those public relations nightmares that UTA is so good at, it is not the end of the world. The only problem is you have people like Valentine who want to steal transit money for other projects and this just gives people like him ammunition.
The anti-transit types will be jumping on this article. UTA overestimated TRAX ridership because it was doing manual counting instead of computer generated counting.
What should be noted here is that ridership is still ahead of projections and doing well. Even in the off peak periods trains have many people on them.
While this is another one of those public relations nightmares that UTA is so good at, it is not the end of the world. The only problem is you have people like Valentine who want to steal transit money for other projects and this just gives people like him ammunition.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Post Number 500!!
It’s time to celebrate!!!
I cannot believe it myself but I have reached entry number 500 at Transit in Utah.
I started this blog way back in August of 2005 as a way to talk about the issues that pertain to the Utah Transit Authority.
Over the past couple of years Transit in Utah has evolved. After reading other transit related blogs over the last couple of years I have been able to take ideas from those and adapt them to Transit in Utah. Transit Miami has been a big influence on what Transit in Utah is becoming.
I have always had an interest in Urban Planning and know that good planning is critically important to the success of a city and a transit system. I am trying to put some of that information into the blog.
Thank you to all my loyal readers and those who just stop by now and again. I hope you have been enjoying the blog and will continue to do so.
One last thing, I know that some pro-highway people try to portray transit supporters as anti-car. Well just to show that is not true the picture is one of my dream cars and of course keeping with the theme it is a 1970 Shelby GT 500. I would not argue if this was in my carport on Christmas Day but transit would still be my choice.
I cannot believe it myself but I have reached entry number 500 at Transit in Utah.
I started this blog way back in August of 2005 as a way to talk about the issues that pertain to the Utah Transit Authority.
Over the past couple of years Transit in Utah has evolved. After reading other transit related blogs over the last couple of years I have been able to take ideas from those and adapt them to Transit in Utah. Transit Miami has been a big influence on what Transit in Utah is becoming.
I have always had an interest in Urban Planning and know that good planning is critically important to the success of a city and a transit system. I am trying to put some of that information into the blog.
Thank you to all my loyal readers and those who just stop by now and again. I hope you have been enjoying the blog and will continue to do so.
One last thing, I know that some pro-highway people try to portray transit supporters as anti-car. Well just to show that is not true the picture is one of my dream cars and of course keeping with the theme it is a 1970 Shelby GT 500. I would not argue if this was in my carport on Christmas Day but transit would still be my choice.
DART in Dallas
Here is a promotion video off of youtube celebrating DART's 10 anniversary since opening their first rail line. While the video is a year and a half old, it does a good job of showing what is happening in the Dallas area when it comes to light rail.
It is interesting that they mention the recently opened American Airline Arena station as the beginning of a major expansion much as the Intermodal Extension here in Salt Lake is the start of TRAX's major expansion projects.
Hope you enjoy!!
It is interesting that they mention the recently opened American Airline Arena station as the beginning of a major expansion much as the Intermodal Extension here in Salt Lake is the start of TRAX's major expansion projects.
Hope you enjoy!!
Monday, December 17, 2007
UTA and new ski buses...
UTA adds new ski buses to fleet
This article mentions the new buses now being utilized on the ski bus service. In years passed I have railed against the ski bus service as it is now set due to its high cost and great waste of capital resources.
This article allows a perfect examination of what a waste of capital resources it is to run the service.
My big problem with the ski bus service is the buses run only 4 months a year then sit for the other 8 except for an occasional trip. This greatly wastes precious capital resources on a very special limited service. While Justin Jones may say UTA is not a social service agency, the ski bus service proves him wrong.
Now lets take the cost of one of these new buses at 3.6 million. That means that the capital cost per revenue day on a ski bus is $2600 while the revenue cost of the same bus being used in regular service is only $1050. Instead of wasting valuable capital resources on the ski bus service they should instead use those resources on regular routes. While some people may not like what they hear, if we are to continue running the ski bus service like it has for the last 31 years then UTA should be using buses on these routes that its about to retire. Since UTA usually has buses sitting around waiting to head to auction, it should use these buses for the ski bus service every year and leave the newer buses to other roles. That way a vital capital resource is not being wasted.
As I have mentioned before in the past, either UTA needs to contract this service out to a company that would provide the buses or it needs to find a use of the buses the rest of the year. While Zions Park already has it's own buses, that is a perfect example of what should be done with the ski buses instead of sitting in the garage. It is travesty to be wasting a 3.6 million dollar piece of equipment when it sits more than 66% of the time.
This article mentions the new buses now being utilized on the ski bus service. In years passed I have railed against the ski bus service as it is now set due to its high cost and great waste of capital resources.
This article allows a perfect examination of what a waste of capital resources it is to run the service.
My big problem with the ski bus service is the buses run only 4 months a year then sit for the other 8 except for an occasional trip. This greatly wastes precious capital resources on a very special limited service. While Justin Jones may say UTA is not a social service agency, the ski bus service proves him wrong.
Now lets take the cost of one of these new buses at 3.6 million. That means that the capital cost per revenue day on a ski bus is $2600 while the revenue cost of the same bus being used in regular service is only $1050. Instead of wasting valuable capital resources on the ski bus service they should instead use those resources on regular routes. While some people may not like what they hear, if we are to continue running the ski bus service like it has for the last 31 years then UTA should be using buses on these routes that its about to retire. Since UTA usually has buses sitting around waiting to head to auction, it should use these buses for the ski bus service every year and leave the newer buses to other roles. That way a vital capital resource is not being wasted.
As I have mentioned before in the past, either UTA needs to contract this service out to a company that would provide the buses or it needs to find a use of the buses the rest of the year. While Zions Park already has it's own buses, that is a perfect example of what should be done with the ski buses instead of sitting in the garage. It is travesty to be wasting a 3.6 million dollar piece of equipment when it sits more than 66% of the time.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Articles about I-15 in Utah County...
I-15 plan approval expected in 2008
Widening of I-15 is debated
The is the problem with not charging developers for the cost they create. How much traffic is being created by developers both of commercial and residential development. Until we actually have to pay the full price of development it will go unabated.
Widening of I-15 is debated
The is the problem with not charging developers for the cost they create. How much traffic is being created by developers both of commercial and residential development. Until we actually have to pay the full price of development it will go unabated.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
The Problem with Skybridges...
It seems that the sky bridge has become a contentious issue about the City Creek project. Many people seemed to think the sky bridge is wonderful just because Rocky is against it.
I could care less if Rocky loves the thing or hates, I personally think the sky bridge is a very bad idea.
Downtown Reno is the perfect example of what a sky bridge can do. The three main casinos in the are the Circus Circus, Silver Legacy and the El Dorado. All three of the hotels under common ownership are connected to each other via sky walks which you can see to the left of the photo.
The sky bridges are designed for one thing: to keep people in the casinos. On the street level you see a few people but for the most part the pedestrian action is non-existent. In the picture you are looking north toward the Circus Circus. Along the Silver Legacy there is a facade of old looking buildings that are all fake. There is not actually entrances or anything. Even during the day there is very little pedestrian action on the streets.
You can't blame the casinos for wanting to keep all the business to themselves but their actions have largely killed the the rest of the downtown area.
The City Creek sky bridge is also designed to keep people in the development which will choke off pedestrian traffic along Main Street and the surrounding areas.
Another example of what sky bridges do is Downtown Spokane. Spokane built an extensive network of sky bridges during and after Expo 74. What essentially happened was the people moved up. They stopped walking around along the surface streets and only shopped from the sky walks. The street level died as a result and you started getting the impression that Downtown Spokane was dead.
Eventually many of the stores started to close and be turned into offices and the downtown area became a 9 to 5 area. While not all of downtown's problems could be blamed on the sky walks, it was clear that they were a contributing factor to the decline of the area.
It has taken more than a decade for things to start changing in Spokane. There was other issues like a big mall issue but bring back the street life over the last few years has help the downtown area.
While there has been claims that the sky walk at City Creek will have access to the street level, the sky bridge is designed to keep people in the City Creek complex.
People need to not let emotion rule the decision over the sky bridge. Instead let good urban planning that is designed to enhance the entire downtown area, not two single blocks make the decision.
I could care less if Rocky loves the thing or hates, I personally think the sky bridge is a very bad idea.
Downtown Reno is the perfect example of what a sky bridge can do. The three main casinos in the are the Circus Circus, Silver Legacy and the El Dorado. All three of the hotels under common ownership are connected to each other via sky walks which you can see to the left of the photo.
The sky bridges are designed for one thing: to keep people in the casinos. On the street level you see a few people but for the most part the pedestrian action is non-existent. In the picture you are looking north toward the Circus Circus. Along the Silver Legacy there is a facade of old looking buildings that are all fake. There is not actually entrances or anything. Even during the day there is very little pedestrian action on the streets.
You can't blame the casinos for wanting to keep all the business to themselves but their actions have largely killed the the rest of the downtown area.
The City Creek sky bridge is also designed to keep people in the development which will choke off pedestrian traffic along Main Street and the surrounding areas.
Another example of what sky bridges do is Downtown Spokane. Spokane built an extensive network of sky bridges during and after Expo 74. What essentially happened was the people moved up. They stopped walking around along the surface streets and only shopped from the sky walks. The street level died as a result and you started getting the impression that Downtown Spokane was dead.
Eventually many of the stores started to close and be turned into offices and the downtown area became a 9 to 5 area. While not all of downtown's problems could be blamed on the sky walks, it was clear that they were a contributing factor to the decline of the area.
It has taken more than a decade for things to start changing in Spokane. There was other issues like a big mall issue but bring back the street life over the last few years has help the downtown area.
While there has been claims that the sky walk at City Creek will have access to the street level, the sky bridge is designed to keep people in the City Creek complex.
People need to not let emotion rule the decision over the sky bridge. Instead let good urban planning that is designed to enhance the entire downtown area, not two single blocks make the decision.
Draper NIMBY's at the meeting...
Draper group objects to TRAX route
No surprise that the Draper NIMBY small minority was out in force to stop the big evil TRAX line from using the route it should be using.
The biggest laugh was Ron Page showing that he is one of those people who still has not faced reality and using the road warrior mantra "no one will ride it". We all know that stupid line was wrong and for anyone to be using it at this point is just plain out there.
I do notice that the are not saying it should go down State Street anymore just farther west. In other words anywhere but their precious neighborhood showing that they are NIMBY's in the truest sense of the word.
A majority of Draper supports TRAX and it should be using the private right of way that is designed for rail.
No surprise that the Draper NIMBY small minority was out in force to stop the big evil TRAX line from using the route it should be using.
The biggest laugh was Ron Page showing that he is one of those people who still has not faced reality and using the road warrior mantra "no one will ride it". We all know that stupid line was wrong and for anyone to be using it at this point is just plain out there.
I do notice that the are not saying it should go down State Street anymore just farther west. In other words anywhere but their precious neighborhood showing that they are NIMBY's in the truest sense of the word.
A majority of Draper supports TRAX and it should be using the private right of way that is designed for rail.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Transit Related Articles
Vote on TRAX route to airport is delayed
Contentious TRAX decision delayed
Interesting that only 12 people showed up to oppose the viaduct. If this was the end of the world for the west side as it has be portrayed to be, you would think that turn out would have been a little higher than this. But then again the Trib articles says "dozens" showed up so which was it?
The decision should not be made on emotions, red herrings like "crime will increase because of the viaduct", or the wants of anti-transit Boyer, it should be what is going to be best for the long term balanced transportation needs of the Salt Lake region.
UTA dipping into cash reserves
Looks like UTA is trying to look like the good guy after several embarrassing public relations blunders over the last few months. How many people knew that UTA was going to cut routes if the tax increase didn't go through because of the food tax cut? I never heard it mentioned, in fact if you look at all the materials from the election, it was a vote for more highway money and that was it.
Contentious TRAX decision delayed
Interesting that only 12 people showed up to oppose the viaduct. If this was the end of the world for the west side as it has be portrayed to be, you would think that turn out would have been a little higher than this. But then again the Trib articles says "dozens" showed up so which was it?
The decision should not be made on emotions, red herrings like "crime will increase because of the viaduct", or the wants of anti-transit Boyer, it should be what is going to be best for the long term balanced transportation needs of the Salt Lake region.
UTA dipping into cash reserves
Looks like UTA is trying to look like the good guy after several embarrassing public relations blunders over the last few months. How many people knew that UTA was going to cut routes if the tax increase didn't go through because of the food tax cut? I never heard it mentioned, in fact if you look at all the materials from the election, it was a vote for more highway money and that was it.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Bike Sharing
Another great piece of information from our friends at Transit Miami:
Bike Sharing: Coming to a City Near You in 2008 (Unless You're in Miami) or Salt Lake City.
Bike Sharing: Coming to a City Near You in 2008 (Unless You're in Miami) or Salt Lake City.
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