Deseret News | Streetcars could roll in 3 years

Reader comments
Streetcars could roll in 3 years

Traffic Reduction? | 12:07 p.m. May 29, 2009

I would love to know how a street car is going to reduce traffic along 21st South by 20%.

Very Elementary Concept | 12:24 p.m. May 29, 2009

The average car carries fewer than 1.5 people, a street car could hold anywhere from 20-50 people. That would be a minimum of 35-75 fewer cars on the road for each trip its takes at capacity. Is this really hard to understand?

Anonymous | 1:03 p.m. May 29, 2009

How does a single rail work without a loop? How do trolleys going in opposite directions get past each other?

Comments continue below

Sugarhouse dweller | 1:09 p.m. May 29, 2009

This is great! I can't wait for it. Many of us in Sugar house who are college students have been hit hard by the economic downturn and we no longer can afford to own a car. Additionally readily available transportation helps community members feel more connected to the community and explore more. This would be a great gain in our tax base. My only question is will it run late at night for the grown ups and on weekends? Bus service is non-existant at night.

JoeyjJolley | 2:15 p.m. May 29, 2009

Will the streetcar replace cars?

No One of Consequence | 2:51 p.m. May 29, 2009

There is no way that this could ever be worth the cost.

Of course it would reduce traffic, because it would narrow down the street and force vehicles to use other routes.

We keep electing people who believe we have nothing better to do than wait for public transportation and nothing more to transport than what we can carry. Then they give us public transportation that doesn't go where we need to go when we need to go there and costs more than driving.

Interurbans | 2:56 p.m. May 29, 2009

This is great news indeed. Now how long do we have to wait for the service to be extended south from Sandy to Draper, Orem, American Fork and Provo?

JBK | 3:21 p.m. May 29, 2009

Q. How does a single rail work without a loop?

A. Streetcars are often built with driving positions at both ends. The operator walks to the other end and off it goes!

Q. How do trolleys going in opposite directions get past each other?

A. Passing tracks will be built where the streetcars are scheduled to meet.

re: Very Elementary Concept
modern streetcars usually have about 50 seats, but can hold a hundred or more standing passengers for short trips.

CougarKeith | 3:49 p.m. May 29, 2009

Is this going to cost more than driving your own car? That would be stupid? I mean the average UTA trip meets or exceeds what it would cost to take your own car now. All this was supposed to be "Cheaper" and "Cost Effective", but guess what, IT ISN'T! For the person in Sugar House, if you can't afford a car, MOVE!!! Why do we all expect the government to solve all our problems??? I want the government to pay for my childs education, make retirement age 30, and pay for all my food, clothing and morgage too! Oh, I want a new car every 3 years and I want them to pay for the insurance, maintainance and gas too while they are taking care of everyone else! I personally am sick of it!

Frank Castle | 5:30 p.m. May 29, 2009

Instead of pumping $ into another transporation boondoggle, Why don't we continue to expand TRAX.

See how that works and go from there.

Bender Rodriguez | 5:37 p.m. May 29, 2009

re: CougarKeith | 3:49 p.m. May 29, 2009

//Why do we all expect the government to solve all our problems???... I personally am sick of it!//

Thank you. I agree completely.

Get Real | 5:54 p.m. May 29, 2009

What you pro streetcar people forget is that people will have to drive to the streetcar pickup spots, wait, then drive back home once their trip is complete.

Public transit is a joke.

Get Real? Fo' Real! | 6:17 p.m. May 29, 2009

I think that if they do have a streetcar I would only ride on it if it were named Desire. Also, my friend works in the refinery industry and they are hurting real bad right now, how would these streetcars impact those poor souls? I am just not sure about this. Plus sometimes, when I ride trax the smell reminds me of homeless people and mayonnaise, and I think both of those things are gross. How can we be sure that the streetcar won't be more of the same. Boo public transportation!

Anonymous | 6:49 p.m. May 29, 2009

I will only support this endeavor if we bring back old school trolley cars... otherwise its a complete and utter waste!

Traffic Reduction? | 7:05 p.m. May 29, 2009

Re: Very Elementary

Yeah, the thing will be filled to capacity with people riding the street car instead of cars. Seriously, ivory tower projects like this need to be put down before lots and lots of money is wasted.

wrong idea | 7:22 p.m. May 29, 2009

just one more thing to make the rest of us wait even longer at stoplights. why don't they invest in overpasses--the simple concrete beam type-- that allow drivers continuing straight to bypass the intersection completely. if you've ever lived abroad or in really large cities, you know the first rule of traffic is to keep it moving. but i suppose an overpass would be as distracting and block the view as much as the much-disputed skybridge over Main St. at the new City Creek Center so we shouldn't do it.

Anonymous | 8:54 p.m. May 29, 2009

I don't understand why they want it on 2300 E instead of 2100 E where all the businesses (and traffic) are (is). Plus if it was on 2100 E then the neighborhoods on both sides of the street would have easy access. If you look on google maps, you can see that the tracks are already there so maybe that's why? I'm excited for it though, its not really a park and ride deal, more for commuters that live somewhere along the route (trax included). Its just a start, hopefully they'll expand it further east so I can walk to it. Right now it would be about a 3.5 mile walk for me. A little far for commuting. Bring it straight up 2100 S all the way to K mart and we are talking.

YAY | 12:57 a.m. May 30, 2009

So check this out, go to google, then click "map," then enter "Mcclelland and sugarmont salt lake city utah." You can already see the existing rail alignment. Zoom in, click the "satellite" button, and you can follow the exact rail line and see what houses and businesses the rail goes past.

Its probably 10 years out, but I can definately see how development would change and spring up around the line. I think it would be very cool to live right along the line, or maybe a half block off of it. In New Orleans the St. Charles street car goes right through one of the fancyist neighborhoods in the whole city on the way to Loyola and Tulane. There are mansions built all along that street (Maybe thats why its a property in the board game "monopoly").

I think this is very cool. Time to go house hunting?

May | 1:49 a.m. May 30, 2009

There are some drivers making comments here who are very self-centered.
Don't you realize not everyone has a car or can drive a vehicle, including elderly, blind, disabled, pre-license age, temporarily ill or prevented from driving, those who can't afford a car, etc. Add to that people who prefer not to drive, and you have a lot of people using public transportation.

Jim | 5:42 a.m. May 30, 2009

One question, where does all this money come from ? Can't even convince the citizens of SLC to build a new police station to replace the antique, falling-down, cracker box they are in now ! Most cities seem to be tearing out old, unused tracks..but here, " Let's build an antiquated out dated system just for the fun of it, and people will come from miles around to ride it and spend money at outlets close. " DUH BUT this caution...if it is a done deal.. DON'T LET UTA GET THEIR MONEY GRABBING HANDS ON IT....or it will pay for more big raises for their management and less service for the few who do ride....

PUBLIC transportation | 7:31 a.m. May 30, 2009

Yes, you will from time to time encounter people that don't meet your social standards on public transportation. If homeless people had a car they wouldn't be homeless - they would be living in the car. Public transportation is returning to cities all over the country in recent years and proving to be popular and convenient. Yes, you might have to drive a car to the station or stop where you get on the transportation, that's why popular spots have parking lots. Its hard to imagine why public transportation wouldn't work in a City where people regularly travel long distances for work. And just coincidentally, your air quality will improve.

Anonymous | 8:20 a.m. May 30, 2009

This is really great stuff! It will improve the atmosphere of the area, take some cars off the road, and make things much more interesting. It could lead the way in the trend towards alternate transportation modes that is gong on in urban areas around the country. Remember, there were many naysayers about Trax, and it has been a fabulous success.

Successful? | 1:08 p.m. May 30, 2009

The reason public transportation is "successful" is that the users pay only about 15% of what it costs to provide the service. The rest comes from taxes paid by those who can't use the service. Charge the users the actual cost and see how "successful" public transit will be.

UTA looses money on every passenger it carries. Those losses are made up out of sales tax revenues. UTA is already hurting because sales tax receipts are down. How much will these taxes have to be increased to cover the cost of TRAX expansions to West Jordan, Draper, and the Airport and the Utah County Front Runner? No one is saying. How much of a sales tax increase will be required for the Sugar House trolley boondoggle?

To "Successful?" | 3:49 p.m. May 30, 2009

You said, "The rest comes from taxes paid by those who can't use the service."

Who is it who is not allowed to use public transportation?

By the way, let's say you are suddenly unable to drive. What are you going to do? There are many citizens who need public transportation. Try to empathize with others.

Anonymous | 4:13 p.m. May 30, 2009

The government loses money on roads, schools, and just about everything else it does in the public interest. Subsidized mass transit is no exception and we should invest even more. The evolution of communities will benefit enormously as will our lifestyle. Build it as well as more bike friendly lanes, paths and trails. Folks, life can be good outside the automobile.

the truth | 5:10 p.m. May 30, 2009

fifty years ago the people rejoices that they got rid all those pesky nuisance of the tracks and trolleys and rail cars off the streets of salt lake city,

now history is repeating itself, and there are people who want bring all that back, first light rail, now this.

CougarKeith | 9:29 p.m. May 30, 2009

I'll tell you where the money will come from, A: YOU THE PEOPLE, or B: The Feds, and they will borrow it from China, and then the deficit will grow and they will tax everyone to pay interest and thus everyone of us get's to pay for it anyway! Use your heads, who pays for it, WE DO! WE ALWAYS PAY FOR IT!!! That is what it always boils down to, stick the common man with the bill!

re: CougarKeith | 5:48 p.m. Aug. 18, 2009

Who would you have pay for it? Poor people in Africa or the Chinese? Of COURSE you are going to pay for it, just like I do, and everyone else! If we want improvements, they aren't FREE! Somewhere, somehow, they cost money. Quit feeling entitled to get something for nothing.

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