CENTERVILLE -- Without public transportation, the city's plans for the future of Main Street will likely never come to pass. That was the consensus the Centerville City Council reached at their meeting last week during discussions about implementing certain aspects of the recently completed Main Street Master Plan. As a result of this, the council approved the sending of a letter to UTA and UDOT stating that a fixed rail transit system, rather than a full two-track light rail system, would work well along a specific stretch along the city's Main Street.

"If we don't have fixed rail, the whole main street plan is essentially pointless," said Centerville City Council member Justin Allen.

The letter, written by Mayor Ron Russell with input and edits from council members and city staff, encourages a transit system along the lines of the recently discussed street-car system. This, or something along the lines of a single-rail train system, would be able to fit within Main Street's current right-of-way without having to significantly impinge on sidewalks or nearby businesses.

"A fixed rail transit system would work well on our main street between Pages and Parrish Lane to stimulate the type of development envisioned," reads an early draft of the letter. "It is clear, however, that those benefits would not be achieved by a system that would require any significant widening of the existing asphalt."

The letter goes on to explain that the city would like to restrict any widening of Main Street to allow for more sidewalks or streetscape amenities.

Council member Paul Cutler was leery about even a fixed-rail system going farther north than Main Street. However, Mayor Russell reminded the council that such details were far in the future, especially since the recent failure of the .25 percent trasportation tax may have rendered several of UTA and UDOT's plans purely academic.

The council also approved hiring the consultants who created the Main Street Master Plan to help work related amendments into the city's general plan, as well as the formation of a steering committee to oversee the process.

Though stakeholder representatives have yet to be chosen, Mayor Russell, council member Sherri Lindstrom, community development director Cory Snyder, planning commissioners Lee Duncan (chair) and Jim Palmer will all be part of the committee.

"The planning commission wants this done as soon as possible," said Mayor Russell. "We hope to be able to come to them with recommendations in the next couple of months."



jwardell@davisclipper.com