4 Dec 2006
On Wednesday I was invited to make a presentation to the South Salt Lake City Council.
They listened to my summary for nearly a half hour and asked many questions. The tone of the meeting was very good. Some of them asked for some follow up information that I am now getting ready.
Also GJ LaBonty of UTA gave the council an update of the Transportation Alternatives Study of the SugarHouse Spur.
The City Attorney also reviewed to the council some of the aspects of the city's relationship to UTA.
It appears that the Alternatives Study will look at Trax, Bus Rapid Transit, UTA operated modern Streetcar, and my Vintage Trolley. The study will likely consider using different corridors.
I have heard the various engineering companies are to have their preliminary proposals submitted by Dec 5th. UTA will select the Engineering company by December 22nd barring any glitches.
-doug
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
SugarHouse Trolley in SL Tribune
Proponent says Sugar House-South Salt Lake line could be practical, and a tourist magnet
By Cathy McKitrick
The Salt Lake Tribune
By Cathy McKitrick
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:11/14/2006 12:53:19 AM MSTSOUTH SALT LAKE - About six years ago, Douglas White got the idea to restore trolley travel from South Salt Lake to Sugar House along an old Union Pacific rail line.
Today, that notion has become a full-blown obsession, White said. And with the Salt Lake Valley's growing transit needs, his concept is starting to gather traction.
The old track, now owned by Utah Transit Authority, runs along 2200 South from 1100 East to 250 West - a 1.8-mile route linking Sugar House to the planned Market Station development in South Salt Lake.
"I've had discussions with South Salt Lake and UTA. G.J. LaBonty [of UTA] informed me we're officially one of their alternatives to be considered," White said, adding that UTA's transit alternative study for the Sugar House spur is just getting underway.
Monday night, White outlined his vision of a locally-sponsored streetcar system to a handful of interested folks at South Salt Lake's Pioneer Craft House.
By setting up a cooperative between White's Sugar House Trolley Association, UTA, Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake, Salt Lake County and other interested entities, White said he hopes to avoid "the red tape that occurs when you go Federal."
He has a lead on several streetcar options - for $25,000 a company in England will ship him a refurbished hybrid vehicle he can lease for $1 a year.
Thebattery-charged vehicle would recharge as it travels every half mile, stop every quarter mile and top out at speeds of 20 to 25 mph, White said.
Other options include refurbishing much older streetcars, such as the Bamberger, which used to run from Preston, Idaho, south to Price - and now sits idle at Ogden's Union Station.
White estimates the project's total cost at $8 million.
"It would cost $40 million to put in a
light-rail system along that route. This would provide the same service for much less, and would double as a tourist attraction," he said.
The Parley's Rails, Trails and Tunnels Coalition (PRATT) hopes to install a trail along the Sugar House spur as part of the 8-mile Parleys Creek Corridor Trail. The trail and single-line transit could coexist in the same transit corridor, White said.
"It's a great idea - it would be the best utilization for all areas up and down that trail, serving as a great community tie-in along the whole route," said Emil Kmet, a Sugar House community council member.
White plans to host another meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Pioneer Craft House, 3271 S. 500 East.
More information can be found atwww.sugarhousetrolley.org
cmckitrick@sltrib.com
SugarHouse Trolley and other Utah Trams, Trolleys, Light Rail info
Today, that notion has become a full-blown obsession, White said. And with the Salt Lake Valley's growing transit needs, his concept is starting to gather traction.
The old track, now owned by Utah Transit Authority, runs along 2200 South from 1100 East to 250 West - a 1.8-mile route linking Sugar House to the planned Market Station development in South Salt Lake.
"I've had discussions with South Salt Lake and UTA. G.J. LaBonty [of UTA] informed me we're officially one of their alternatives to be considered," White said, adding that UTA's transit alternative study for the Sugar House spur is just getting underway.
Monday night, White outlined his vision of a locally-sponsored streetcar system to a handful of interested folks at South Salt Lake's Pioneer Craft House.
By setting up a cooperative between White's Sugar House Trolley Association, UTA, Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake, Salt Lake County and other interested entities, White said he hopes to avoid "the red tape that occurs when you go Federal."
He has a lead on several streetcar options - for $25,000 a company in England will ship him a refurbished hybrid vehicle he can lease for $1 a year.
Thebattery-charged vehicle would recharge as it travels every half mile, stop every quarter mile and top out at speeds of 20 to 25 mph, White said.
Other options include refurbishing much older streetcars, such as the Bamberger, which used to run from Preston, Idaho, south to Price - and now sits idle at Ogden's Union Station.
White estimates the project's total cost at $8 million.
"It would cost $40 million to put in a
The Parley's Rails, Trails and Tunnels Coalition (PRATT) hopes to install a trail along the Sugar House spur as part of the 8-mile Parleys Creek Corridor Trail. The trail and single-line transit could coexist in the same transit corridor, White said.
"It's a great idea - it would be the best utilization for all areas up and down that trail, serving as a great community tie-in along the whole route," said Emil Kmet, a Sugar House community council member.
White plans to host another meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Pioneer Craft House, 3271 S. 500 East.
More information can be found at
cmckitrick@sltrib.com
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Trolley in the Deseret News
Deseret Morning News, Tuesday, November 07, 2006
South Salt Lake mixed-use project sought
By Amelia Nielson-Stowell
Deseret Morning News
SOUTH SALT LAKE — A developer is hoping to capitalize on the transportation stops in South Salt Lake and create a 12-acre community with retail and residential space.
  Deseret Morning News graphic |
"No doubt it's a tired area that's been light industrial in the area for years, and it's run its course in that use," said developer Steve Aste. "It's long overdue for a project like this."
Aste, managing partner of Park City-based Cascade Developments Partners, is building the project with Los Angeles-based West Millennium Homes. The two already opened phase one of their project earlier this year. That development, Central Pointe, a 76-unit condo complex with seven retail stores, is located at 2150 S. Main St.
Market Station is phase two of the expansion and will extend from 2100 South to 2300 South and Main Street to State Street. The site was formerly home to Burton Lumber, which vacated the grounds over a year ago.
The project is centered around various transportation hubs. Both Interstate 15 and Interstate 80 feed into the project, as does TRAX. A proposed trolley line would run from the Central Pointe TRAX stop near Market Station to Sugar House on an existing hard-rail line along 2200 South, a Utah Transit Authority right-of-way.
The idea of a trolley has been discussed for years, but Aste said it could be a reality in the next three or four years. However, UTA's Justin Jones said the earliest it could be created would be 2030. Currently, UTA is focusing on extending other TRAX lines before developing the trolley system.
"Since we have a corridor and a right of way, it would be silly not to use it for some sort of transportation purpose," said Jones, the UTA spokesman. "But there isn't any funding for it."
Aste's project and the lack of parking in Sugar House have spurred additional city support for the trolley line. South Salt Lake and Salt Lake City have both funded a preliminary study on the proposal. Results could be released by January.
That study will explore various options for the UTA rail corridor, such as using a trolley, light-rail car or bus, and even the possibility of adding a walking and biking trail next to the rail line.
But Bill Anderson, chairman of the South Salt Lake City Council, said the council does not want to use that rail corridor for the project because it cuts through neighborhoods and would likely have few if any stops within South Salt Lake. He favors a soft-tire trolley bus that would run on the streets and stop every few blocks.
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-We plan on having Trolley Stops in SSLC @ 3rd W. ,West Temple, State, 3rd E. , & 5th E. . Are 5 Trolley Stops in SSLC enough???
=Doug
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Market Station, however, is a welcome project in the city of 22,000, where 62 percent of residents are renters.
"Because of that location, it obviously has potential for development," Anderson said. "We're thrilled that somebody is willing to take the risk. That is not a cheap gamble to be taking."
Unlike other retail-driven projects, Market Station will be its own small community, with a grocery store and dry cleaner.
"It's going to be different from what (Salt Lake) is doing at City Creek or the Gateway, because those are destination malls. This is centered around community first," he said. "I don't view it as competition, I view it as an alternative."
In the coming month, South Salt Lake's Redevelopment Agency Board will discuss making the 12-acre site a redevelopment project. If that is approved, property-tax dollars could be diverted to it for infrastructure costs, such as redoing the old sewer system, putting power lines below ground and building a public parking lot.
E-mail: astowell@desnews.com
© 2006 Deseret News Publishing Company
Monday, October 09, 2006
SugarHouse Trolley News: Oct 06
I recently got some news: Sometime after the first of the year UTA, SSLC, & SLC will be doing a transportation alternatives study for the "Sugar House Spur". I have been informed that our Trolley Plan is officially one of the alternatives that will be considered. Hey, it is a step in the right direction.
Doug
Doug
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
New Spot for Utah Rail developments
Hi,
I just created this blog to discuss Tram, Trolley, and Streetcar developments in the Great State of Utah.
I am partial to the proposed SugarHouse Trolley because that is the project I am working to create.
Check out My Streetcar blog for more details.
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