The Following are Comments From Various
Sources About The Trax Issue In Draper
Extracted from the Draper City Mission Statement on http://www.draper.ut.us
"Draper City is a community that preserves its unique identity and heritage, and provides protection and services for its citizens.
Environment
Draper is clean, pleasant, pastoral, has a small-town feeling and sense of identity. "
" We effectively plan and manage growth to successfully blend our rural heritage with our urban way of life. We protect and benefit from our diverse natural resources and environment. We treasure our small-town feel while enjoying metropolitan opportunities. We preserve open space in the midst of our friendly and walkable neighborhoods and blend in distinctive business areas. "
(We later found that UTA never really considered the State Street Alternative)
"Of the preliminary alternatives there are (6) that have been advanced for further study in the Alternatives Analysis are:* No-build or No-Action
* Transportation Systems Management (TSM) - basically addressing the problem by using transportation solutions while investing little or no capital. (i.e. increased bus service, car pooling, traffic management, flex-schedules etc.)
* Bus Rapid Transit System from 10000 South, Sandy to 14600 South, Draper along the State Street Corridor
* Light Rail Transit System from 10000 South, Sandy to 14600 South, Draper along the State Street Corridor
* Bus Rapid Transit System from 10000 South, Sandy to 14600 South, Draper along the existing UTA owned rail corridor
* Light Rail Transit System from 10000 South, Sandy to 14600 South, Draper along the existing UTA owned rail corridorThese final alternatives will be evaluated using a series of criteria that include but are not limited to environmental impacts, historical impacts, noise, vibration, safety, congruence with the Draper General Plan and public input."
"Thank you citizens. Several of you may even be in my
senate district. I
recognize at least one name. I would extend an offer
to meet with you
folks to become more acquainted with your positions.Sincerely,
Wayne Niederhauser"
"It's not difficult for light rail transit to look successful when Salt Lake City sets the bar so low." This is the comment of Sam Staley, co-author of an insightful new book on transportation policy titled, The Road More Traveled: Why the Congestion Crisis Matters More Than You Think and What We Can Do About It. Frankly, nearly everything Utahns have been told about light-rail transit as the savior of our congestion woes is false. The truth is that new funds should focus nearly exclusively on more roads and more rights-of-way if we are truly interested in solving the very real problem of growing congestion. TRAX expansion is the last thing we should do. "
"Nearly half the route is next to the widely used Porter
Rockwell Trail, and some portions wend through newer subdivisions in
this fast-growing city of 35,000 people.
"We support light rail, but in the most appropriate and effective
place" - not through low-density Draper neighborhoods, Pugh says. Her
group prefers a route along Draper's portion of State Street, which
boasts more retail than residents. "
"You build transit around high density housing and commercial zones to increase the potential ridership. Mass transit through the middle of low density housing neighborhoods and far away from commercial zones provides the least amount of ridership. When you build mass transit through low-density housing you are wasting tax payers money. If TRAX on the ROW has really been in the City's plans since 1993, as Bill Colbert would want everyone to believe, then the City should have zoned the land around the ROW accordingly (i.e. high-density housing and commercial property). The reality is that TRAX along the ROW has only been in the City's plans since 2003, which would have been after most of the houses along the ROW were built.Your question implies that there was some logic in the decision in the first place. The simple reality is that there is no logic. Why UTA would spend millions of dollars (our tax dollars) to extend a line that will compete with a commuter rail that will travel twice as fast with half as many stops is void of logic. If UTA wants to spend tax dollars responsibly, they would extend the TRAX line from its current termination point to intersect with Front Runner, which would allow riders to switch between commuter lines in the Sandy area. Running two mass transit lines over the point of the mountain through mostly residential areas is irresponsible use of tax payers money.
The bottom line - UTA wants to extend TRAX into Utah County regardless of the impact on our community or convincing anyone that the benefits justify the costs (i.e. total cost to build and operate compared to the decrease in congestion on I-15 and our major roads) and sees the existing ROW as the easiest way to accomplish their goal. For some unknown reason, our City Council and Mayor believe that TRAX is the only answer for Draper and is willing to compromise the look and feel of our city to make sure it happens. I have said it before and I will say it again: the residents of Draper did not move here for the ease of the commute to downtown SLC. We moved here for the quiet rural community feel. Someone help me understand how TRAX is consistent with our community. Someone help me understand why a well designed bus system combined with Front Runner does not adequately meet the mass transit needs of our growing community. "
"When UTA purchased the right of way through Draper, Draper was mostly farms and pasture land. That was back in 1993. Where the ball was dropped, in my opinion, was in the planning and development along that line.
The city knew of those future plans and yet they allowed low density, high-end housing along the line. I recently questioned the wisdom of those decisions and was told that the city believed that the large yards would be enough of a buffer between the rail line and the homes. I don't know why anyone would believe that was true. Typically if you have light rail through a community, it is lined by high density housing and commercial development. In fact planners who work exclusively with tranist- oriented development tell communities that if they want their rail lines to get maximum usage the city should have these two components all along the line.
No one yet has explained to me where UTA thinks light rail will be taking people from Draper. If I am going downtown and commuter rail will pick people up from the point of the mountain, why in the world would I take light rail? Commuter rail is supposed to be the express route to downtown. Why would I meander through the back rail lines with all the stops that would take at least twice the amount of time?
And if light rail is not taking people downtown, where is it going to take people? The route along the backside of Draper really goes nowhere special. Along State Street there are numerous businesses as well as the new hospital not to mention plenty of high density housing. Possibly someone can help me to understand the logic of this decision."
"We believe in what we are doing. We especially believe that looping mass transit through the heart of Draper and low density residential neighborhoods is the wrong choice. The impact of trains every 10 to 15 minutes will be huge. The impact of electrical lines strewn across much of Draper will be huge. The time it takes to get people where they need to go will be less effective and cost more than if the transit line where located centrally along the freeway and a more direct route. "
"the right of referendum is deemed an inherent right, expressly recognized and retained by the people through the Constitution. (Gallivan v. Walker, 2002 UT) The Utah supreme court has basically said it is sacrosanct to the people"
"I have heard rumors are being floated that because the referendum has
been filed, Draper is not interested in having light rail in their
community. Don't be surprised if this logic is used to defeat the
referendum. In other words the logic may be used that if you vote
for the referendum then UTA won't bring light rail here. I am
personally insulted by that type of blackmail. The dollars used to
build light rail are our tax dollars not UTA's."
"All we want is for the chance to vote on this issue. It is time for
the city and county to give us that opportunity."
"As it has now unfolded, the proposed ROW does not provide convenient mass transit for Draper citizens.... it amounts to simply an abundant stream of daily train traffic ROUTED THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF DRAPER. With one stop TENTATIVELY being considered for the Pioneer Street Town Center (with limited parking) and one TENTATIVELY being considered for the the point of the mountain, near the Bluffdale exit, there is marginal convenience for residents of Draper. With that said, the Trax route does need to pass through Draper somewhere. The I-15 transportation corridor certainly is a better strategic choice... even IF it costs slightly more."