Show expansion makes great strides Sam Cooper Community Editor Salt Lake County planners are making big steps to improve transportation woes across the valley Ambitious projects aimed at alleviating snarled traffic traffic traffic fic poor parking and accessibility ity to Salt Lake City's downtown downtown downtown down down- town are in the works On Tuesday May 16 the county council passed a resolution resolution resolution tion supporting UTA's plan to speed construction on four proposed proposed proposed pro pro- posed routes The routes would connect the airport West Valley Draper and West Jordan t to the existing line creating creating creating cre cre- what planners hope will be bea a transportation boon for the valley The new lines are hoped to ease west east-west traffic on 15 1 and 1 I which has always been a problem for commuters For planners its it's been necessary to look at problems that affect the entire city one community at ata ata ata a time No congestion problem means no transportation problem problem problem lem said Project Planner Gabe I 1 f A I I p v p lj- lj q fl f 34 viti t. t f Photo by Adam Heath board on UTA's City Center Station while expansion plans are being considered Epperson of Envision Utah who worked on the first fast phase of the city's long range plan The problem is many people from Sandy and West Valley drive to the nearest sta sta- sta- sta tion The new stations bring closer to where they are are he said According to to Epperson this should keep thousands of commuters off the road Tens of thousands of people people people peo peo- could then be walking or biking to the new lines people who would usually be driving he said How do we get the most people out of their cars during commuter hours asked Epperson For many an extension extension extension exten exten- sion to the Sandy area has been just a matter of time Currently the Sandy line is double the rid- rid projected said con continued on page 2 UTA will make more stops continued from front page Epperson Construction on the commuter rail project known as Frontrunner which will link Ogden and Salt Lake is track on-track with UTA officials calling for a mid 2008 opening The 44 mile line will include eight stops starting in hi Pleasant PleasantView PleasantView View Yew and ending at what will be the Salt Lake hub on South and West The train will run on quarter mile lengths of track many recycled from old automobiles UTA representatives representatives representatives believe this will make the ride smooth and y comfortable The much anticipated line parallels 1 I- 15 for much of its length making it an appealing alternative to what has become one of the worst commutes in hi the valley The train will be powered by an electric diesel engine and will be capable of reaching speeds near 70 mph though between stop average speeds will be around 50 40 mph making making making mak mak- ing the commute comparable ble to that in a car with light congestion Many believe the new rail will have added benefits benefits benefits bene bene- fits beyond reducing con con- Mass tr transit not only gets people out of their cars but is a catalyst for compact mix used development around each stop said Epperson All nearby property values go up and it increases high density housing thereby reducing urban sprawl He cited the new condo and retail development atthe at atthe atthe the end of the Sandy line as an example If someone wants to buy buya a condo or something next to a tracks stop they can easily commute without the headache of getting in their then car said Epperson |