Goodbye 2008...

Image via WikipediaAs we leave 2008 and enter the New Year it is time to look back at one of the most important years in Utah transportation history.

Let’s look at some of the big stories of the year locally:

1. Construction started on not one, not two, not three, but four rail lines within a few short months. While many cities are still trying just to get rail off the ground, the Wasatch Front is quickly moving to having an outstanding rail system.

2. The opening of the Front Runner Commuter rail line and the extension of TRAX to Central Station. While in any other year this would rate as the news story, it took a back seat to the groundbreaking that took place this year.

On the national side there is so many stories that can be included I will just include the ones I think as most important:

1. Funding for transit projects were approved in multiple locations despite the state of the economy. This includes what could be America’s first high speed rail line in California if the Governor doesn’t steel the money for highways.

2. Opening of the Phoenix light rail system was also big news that just happened last week. Phoenix is a very auto oriented city so seeing it finally get its light rail system is a major victory to sensible transportation planning.

3. On a negative note, we lost one of the few US based rail car construction companies. Colorado Railcar shut down operations just last week after an extended period of financial problems. Colorado Railcar built excellent rail cars for such trains as the Rocky Mountaineer and was the only manufacturer of US spec DMU units. Hopefully

2009 will probably be a quiet year on the local front. While construction will continue on our new light and commuter rail lines, we only have the ground breaking of the Draper extension to look forward to in the New Year.

Meanwhile on the national front, we will see if the new administration will be anything different than the ones that came before it. So far we are not seeing many positive signs but by this time next year we will have a clear picture of what is to come.

Happy New Year to all my readers.

Hurricane to reduce impact fees???

Image via WikipediaHurricane considers reducing impact fees

This article perfectly points what is wrong with our current system.

How many people before looking at a house consider the cost of the impact fees? I bet if you polled 99% of home buyers they would have no idea how much the impact fees were unless they were told by the real estate person.

But real estate developers see any fee as a blow to their "burn and go" system. They want to burn through as many houses, make the money and run. While I have no problem with them making money, it should not be at the cost to everyone else.

Impact fees rarely look at the long term cost of building especially the none-infrastructure cost such as additional police and fire and long term cost such as traffic.

In the long run the people in the older established neighborhoods end up subsidizing their new neighbors.

Article from the Salt Lake Tribune

Image via WikipediaFalling gas prices may fuel old habits

Will transit ridership go back down just because gasoline goes down to $3.50 a gallon or so for a few months? Apparently the Tribune feels that will happen because people are too comfortable driving their SUV's and trucks.

While I can see some people not being as anxious to sell their vehicles now since many of them would take losses, higher gas prices are hear to see so it will be interesting to see what the long term trends will be.

UTA adds to board

Image by ismasans via FlickrUTA is adding Board members to appease the legislators.

Under legislative pressure, UTA adds new board members

I am sure there is one group out there that is celebrating this wonderful day when they let the foxes into the hen house but we shall see if anything really comes of this.

Of course there is many dangers to transit service on the horizon presently, not the least of which is the President's attempt to steal transit funds, what is that certain organization doing to prevent this travesty or are they supporting it since it would give more funding to highways which that group supports.