The meeting was held Monday, here as the Utah Transit Authority prepares to begin its environmental impact study.
At the meeting, the difference between light rail and streetcars was explained and it appears the public would rather have the heavier, faster light rail, said UTA spokesperson Gerry Carpenter. Light rail is also the locally preferred alternative.
Carpenter said street cars not only are lighter in weight, but are more of a community-oriented mode of transportation.
The line will appeal to a different type of commuter than currently uses FrontRunner. ìIt will serve the local community better. People living on the east side of Bountiful might come down to the 400 North station (on Main Street) to travel into Salt Lake City, where they wouldnít take FrontRunner,î Carpenter said. It also could be used by South Davis residents, who say, live in Centerville, but want to travel into Bountiful. Carpenter said the fare will be the same as the bus fare, lower than the FrontRunner fare.
Light rail, much like the TRAX system in place in Salt Lake County, seemed to be preferred because it could travel at greater speeds between Woods Cross and 400 West and 200 South in Salt Lake City, where the line begins.
Whether light rail or street cars are chosen, the proposed route would travel the middle of the road from 400 West 200 South in Salt Lake City, turn onto Beck Street until it approaches North Salt Lake, then veer to the east side of Beck Street on a new frontage road. Through North Salt Lake, Woods Cross and West Bountiful, the line would travel north along U.S. 89 to State Road 106, then turn east to 400 North, following Main Street to Parrish Lane.
Stops along the 11-mile corridor have also not been finalized, but will likely be located at Eagle Ridge Drive and Center Street in North Salt Lake, 2600 South, 1500 South, 500 South, 400 North, Pages Lane and Parrish Lane.
Itís planned that a bus will circulate between the Parrish Lane stop and the Farmington FrontRunner station, and sometime in the future, the line could be extended into Farmington.
He said that while UTA has the necessary funding to complete the environmental study. a draft of the report should be out by the middle of next year.
However, the system itself will likely be funded locally, so it may be several years before the line is built.
Carpenter said that the public will be given other opportunities to express their preferences as the process moves along.
mwilliams@davisclipper.com
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