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Show LIGHT RAIL HAS STAYED ON TRACK NEW DIRECTIONS FOR LIGHT RAIL TRAX = TRAX = TRAX The next proposed exten- Electric streetcars in Salt LakeCity began in 1889. People began to usethetrolleys to sion for light rail is an “east” line that will run from Main Street in downtown Salt Lake to workin thecity, Electric trolleys soon gave way toelectric buses in the early 1940s. In the ley” madeits run. From that point on, buses became the main source of public transit. The modernversion of the electric trolleys, light rail, was reintroduced in North America in 1981 in San Diego. Today there are over 20 systems aroundthe country. UTA’s light rail history has been challenging, yetit has been productive and has stayed on track. In the mid 1980s, the Wasatch FrontRegional Council worked with UTA and UDOTto find solutions for meeting the region’s growingtransportation problems. They recommended a 3-part plan: 1-15 improvements, more UTA buses, and a North/Southrail line. Funding wasneededforthisplan,so voters were asked in 1992 to approve a sales tax increase. After voters rejected this funding plan, UTA secured federal dollars to pay for 80%oftherail line. Numerous opinion polls City to the University of Utah campus, at a projected cost of $105 million. This is a more modestproposalthantheinitial KID POWER: Planning a Trip summerof 1941 the last “trol- You have been chosen to plan the next trip for your family. Planning is very important, and details are essential. Your target destination is the Delta enter in Salt Lake City for a JAZZ playoff game. Your Starting point is St. George. Your plan must include the fal: lowing: $480 million estimate for a comlete West/East line from Salt PRODUCTIVE THINKING ake International Airport to the University of Utah. Productive thinking is a talent, related to the four factors of creativity. Those factors are: Since federal funding for rail projects has become more competitive nationally, UTA is looking at scaling down the flueney, flexibility, originality, and elaboration. Think of: many ideas (fluency), varied ideas (flexibility), unusual ideas (originality), and describe those ideas you select in detail (elaboration). 1, Three or more different modes of transportation. (Assume all different forms of mass transit are up and running.) Try these productive thinking mind stretchers as you plan your trip: 2. You must stop at five different locations between your starting point and the Delta Center. 1, What are , varied, and unusual forms of transportation you could reasonably use in your plan? 3. Make your trip as efficient as possibie. Consider factors: time, money,fuel, convenience. 2. What are many, varied, and unusual places you could stop along the way to get the most out of your trip? 4. Determine as many costs as you can for your trip. 3, whet are many, varied, oe unusual ‘S coul the cost Towand the most extension. moneyto build the East line. The University of Utah is the second highest trip destination in the state of Utah, which makesthis line very important The East Line would also be very opponents, however continued to have a loudvoice. Gordon Linton, Federal Transit Administrator, stated that light rail systems across the country often meet with contro: versyatthestart. “But oncethey sawthatlight rail worked,critics started asking, ‘When are you going to build aline to my neighborhood?” For mostofthelightrail sys- tems, it hasn’t always been a smooth ride, but the future of light rail seemssecurelyon track ll workerMeee’ You may do it in outline form . previous ions in the er for Salt the monies will be heldat the Rice- ~7 Dflving Tip: - Ai9 Avoidexcessive idling. "th | An idling vehiclegets zero miles per gallon, and an idling engine produces moreair pollution, rr Write our travel plan. Include ‘Costs where bile. showed the majority of people voted against tax increase, not the transportation plan. Some during Winter Games since the opening and closing cere- time? were takenafter the vote which helpful Olympic efficient use of your family's YOUR PLAN However, with the 2002 Winter Olympics. rapidly approaching, Salt Lake City may be able to obtain federal ecitic loca- Valley to help you in your planning. Eccles Stadium, and the ath- letes’ village will beat the uni- versity as well To help commuters in other parts of the region, proposed fight rail spurs from West Valley, West Jordan, and Draper are being studied. Theneed for improvedtransportation solu tions for Davis and Utah coun: ties is becoming obvious as commuters get caught in more and more padlocks on 1-15 Onesolution being studied is the use of a regional commuter train from Brigham City to Payson. Early studies show diesel passengertrains, that can travel up to speeds of 80 to 90 mph, would be a good technologyforthis long corridor. |