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Salt Lake City Council supports 400 West TRAX alignment

Westside residents have myopically harmed themselves, commuters, and taxpayers in a shrill debate that had far more to do with power than facts. Taxpayers now must pay an extra 10+ million dollars for an unnecessary commuter rail station that detracts from the millions of dollars spent on the existing one. Luggage laden airport bound train commuters will have to transfer at a convoluted two-story station, instead of walking across a one-level platform at Salt Lake Central. Auto commuters will suffer impacts of additional delays on 400 West. LRT expansion into Davis County is harmed. The Jackson and West High school neghborhoods will suffer impacts of increased traffic on 300 North to access the second commuter station (as well as the associated development). But hey: Neighborworks questionably maintained the sales price of their condominiums (which ironically overlook I-15 but not 600 West). How altruistic.

The City Council made the correct decision. It is important to remember that there are people who live in these neighborhoods, who will be using TRAX and commuter rail as well. In most major cities that have a rail/subway system, people make connections on different platforms all the time, and it does not seem to be a concern. Way to go everyone who worked on this issue!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Yes: people make connections at multiple platforms all the time. But there is a heirarchy of transit service: Buses stop most often/closest together, then streetcar, then light rail, then subway/monorail, then commuter rail. Most commuter rail stops are miles apart in all major cities because they are large trains that are designed for long hauls. I can think of no city in the world that has two commuter rail stations only three blocks apart.
A second commuter rail station in the neighborhood harms the neighbhood more than a bridge on 600 West ever would (it was a 30 foot wide bridge - not a 120 foot wide vaiduct as some critics would have everyone believe). Unfortunately anyone who dared say that got shouted down. Ironically many of the westside neighbohoods who were most verociously opposed to the 600 West alternative were not affected by it in any way whatsoever. It is the people who live in Guadalupe, Jackson and West Capitol neighbohroods who will pay the price of traffic impacts and development pressure for this myopic power play.

It's a sad day when a City Council will ignore logic and side with public clamor. Kudos to the DRAPER City Council. At least they used logic in supporting the Trax route through their city - despite the loud but small group of NIMBYs in their city.