Reader comments
5400 S. lanes are changing their way

Anonymous | 11:06 p.m. Oct. 20, 2009

This is an idiotic plan from inception. The FLex lanes lead to bottlenecks that happen at Bangerter anyway. They are spending $5million when they could use it to make the new freeway out there into a real freeway, one without stoplights. That would cut traffic going east west through Taylorsville with people going directly to SLC. If people hate long commutes, they should not live in the boondocks and then complain about it. Taylorsville shouldn't be turned into a race track just to appease exurbia.

wow wow and wow | 11:13 p.m. Oct. 20, 2009

VERY needed and for a LONG time!!!

Capacity First, Safety Second? | 2:21 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

Safety is a key concern with "reversable" or "flex" lanes. While they have worked on the Golden Gate Bridge, there are few enterance and exit points.

In Tucson, Arizona a street with reversable lanes was known as suicide alley. Due to the multiple entrance points (businesses, residences, etc.) and motorist inattention, some motorists would drive in the wrong lanes - against what the overhead signs were designating. Tucson eventually redesigned the road with a more traditional design with raised islands in some areas.

The "flex"/"reversable" lanes on 5400 South will likely lead to an increase in accidents - possibly some head on collisions and deaths. It all comes down to motorists - who easily get confused and are often distracted. The more complex a road or system, the more inattentive motorists will find ways to be places they should not be.

Comments continue below

If they could afford to live | 7:00 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

closer to where they work, they would. Does he expect them to move everytime they change jobs?

billybubba | 7:26 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

to anonymous: I remember when Taylorsville was a wannabe city and now you are all a bunch of snobs they don’t like anything west of 3600 west but were quick to take up everything up to 4000 west so they could have the business districts. Then they cried about having to use the 84118 zip code. Taylorsville get a life your area is not any better than Kearns, West Valley or Magna half your population used to live in these places. Not everyone can afford to live close to work so they have to get there some way don’t they. I for one hope you don’t have to turn on a car to get to work because if you do then what is your grip you probably drive east and west to

billy bubba | 7:30 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

re Capacity First, Safety Second?: this is the right complaint a perfect example is the round about on 11400 south at the district how many people go the wrong way comming out of the district because they dont understand the system

Z | 8:13 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

I very much doubt that anyone from South Jordan is traveling up to Taylorsville to drive on 5400 S. for their commute. Same for anyone driving down from West Valley City. That would be like flying to Los Angeles by way of Dallas. Sure, you can get there by going that way, but why would you want to?

No, the congestion on 5400 S. is all from western Taylorsville and Kerns, and maybe a little bit of the northern part of West Jordan where some people are trying to avoid the huge bottleneck that is 6200 South. Now THERE'S a road that could use flex lanes.

Once again this highlights the inadequate East-West transportation infrastructure in the south county. You can drive from Draper to Ogden faster than you can drive from Little Cottonwood Canyon to Copperton. You can see it, but you just...can't...get there.

Anonymous | 8:39 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

No the snobs are the one living out in West Jordan by choice so they can have those shiny stucco numbers.

Anonymous | 9:07 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

The 5$ million spent on this facre should be put into the new freeway and make it into a real freeway not anther Bangerter. There is plenty fo affordable and nice housing not in the middle of nowhere exurbia. If you live far, deal with the consequences.

billybubba | 9:17 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

west jordan is the same as t-ville to get fancy you need to go south of 10600 south but still i know a lot of people who would be offended living in taylorsville if you made a mistake and called it kearns and they do live in the kearns area but get t-ville water so according to them they live in t-ville

Anonymous | 9:23 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

We keep adding lanes and all sorts of foolishness to accommodate cars when we need to invest in Light Rail and other mass transit. We can't keep accommodating cars forever.

BTW, you West Jordan sneering at Taylorsville, I will enjoy it when gas goes back abover $4-5 and you whine about the cost of driving to downtown SLC. Then you will be calling for more light rail.

sho'nuff | 9:43 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

To the commenter who said: "They are spending $5million when they could use it to make the new freeway out there into a real freeway, one without stoplights." I say HUZZAH! Let's do that. But do a little research.

$5 million will buy us one overpass in that freeway. That's maybe 1/500th of the total cost. It's needed certainly, but where will we get the money on an already cash strapped economy and state budget?

billybubba | 9:53 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

I agree with you about the money spent on this change could be used to better on the MVC but for now what choices are there east and west with freeway access 4500 so, 5400 so, 9000 so, 10600 so and soon 11400 so that is what we have to live with. I hate the stop and go traffic as much as anyone else I go to work early and get off early to avoid the traffic as much as possible.

max3lv6 | 10:14 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

This is America, we have the freedom to work and live where we please just as you have the freedom to speak your opinion. If I want to live 2 hours away from where I work, that is my choice. You do not have ownership over me or anybody else to dictate what I do or where I live.

Anonymous | 10:35 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

All this foolishness with accommodating cars will never end, They need to expand TRAX.

billybubba | 10:54 a.m. Oct. 21, 2009

re Anonymous: yes it is tough to drive when gas goes up but if one lives and works on the south end of the valley and changes jobs for one reason or another and ends up working on the north end of the valley are they going to sell their house and uproot their kids so they can live close to work. This seems to be a narrow minded attitude and besides without bus routes to get you there you still have to drive east and west to get to light rail stations.

sho'nuff | 2:11 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

Egads, the tired mantra of "increase transit service" is an inevitability in these discussions. Even at it's maximum service - if every train is packed to capacity, the existing Trax light rail services about 6% of the traveling public in Salt Lake County, at a cost that averages 7 times more than an equivalent roadway project.

Take Frontrunner for example. The state could have built seven Legacy Highways for the cost of ONE Frontrunner. SEVEN! And I'm including the cost of the litigation that held up Legacy for a year. How much traffic does Frontrunner remove from the existing roadway? About 6%, maybe even 8% at best.

So let's pretend that we double the extent of Trax. That would service a whopping 12-16% of the traveling public, and that's not considering cost. If you think you'll see any difference in congestion, you sir, have a vivid imagination.

Anonymous | 4:23 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

I said increase mass transit and built the Western corridor freeway as an actual FREEWAY not a bagerter light highway. Pay attention and read closer next time.

The freeway out there would reduce the traffic on 5400 by 30%, ceasing the need for these silly lanes and the cost and dozens of lights.

To the person saying you are glad you have the freedom, I will laugh when you have to pay $5 a gallon for that freedom and still have that freeway running through your backyard.

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