Happy Thanks Digging
24 November, 2008
I had to run to Wal-Mart tonight and I took my wife’s Schwinn Breeze. I was delighted to see crews hard at work on the new FrontRunner South line at 2000 S Orem / 2000 N Provo. Dump trucks were cruising up and down the new line, and men were laying cable. Happy Thanks Digging indeed!
UTA FrontRunner South Construction at 2000 S Orem
It’s nice to see the development unfolding right before my eyes. And it’s a great way to anticipate my next purchase — a folding bike would go quite well with a FrontRunner, don’t you think?
1972
17 November, 2008
I was looking at the editorial section of the New York Times yesterday when I saw an op-ed about transportation entitled “Have You Driven a Bus or a Train Lately?” Of course I have not driven either lately, or ever, though I have ridden on both, so I clicked on the link and enjoyed very much what I read. It was fascinating! There seems to never be any ideas that are new, just recycled. It turns out that former Secretary of the Interior, Stewart Udall, wrote an article in 1972 for The Atlantic entitled “The Last Traffic Jam” that this current op-ed is based partly upon. Both are great reads and I highly recommend them, especially in light of the current crisis that GM is going through and the higher gas prices of this last summer. I’ll sum up for those who don’t have a lot of time. Basically, the argument goes that we should wean ourselves from big heavy inefficient cars and retool to produce smaller, more efficient ones, as well as investing not on more roads but on transit, particularly rail transit, and more compact development patterns that foster walking and transit use. That also means better for bicycles as a given. All I have to say is AMEN! These ideas are far from new. Mr. Udall was advocating this all in 1972! Give them a read and let me know what you think.
Dutch in Orem
15 November, 2008
I had to run a quick errand at lunch today, and while stopped at a red light saw a cyclist on the other side of the intersection riding the opposite direction. I immediately noticed his bike because it looked very similar to mine. I yelled across the intersection to ask him what it was and he yelled back that it was a Dutch bike. It looked very much like an Azor from Henry Workcycles. I don’t know if it was or not, but it was very refreshing to see someone other than me riding such a dignified bike around the streets of Orem. I hope I see more of that kind of thing in the future. I also hope I see this man again soon. I’d like to talk with him and see his bike!
Utah FrontRunner South Public Hearings
13 November, 2008
It’s time to let your voice be heard. UTA is providing a forum for questions surrounding FrontRunner South station sites. Want bike lockers or covered parking? Want to sneak in a plug for extra bike space on the train cars? Here is your chance. From the UTA FrontRunner South team:
Come to the UTA Public Hearings on Re-Evaluation of the Future Draper/BluffDale FrontRunner Commuter Rail Station Site:
· Monday, Nov. 17, 2008 at the Bluffdale Elementary School (14323 South 2700 West, Bluffdale) and
· Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008 at the Willow Springs Elementary School [13288 South Lone Rock Drive (465 East), Draper].
The hearings will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. with a brief presentation at 5:30 p.m.
At the hearings, UTA staff will be available to answer questions on the benefits and impacts of four potential station sites. The public can make written or recorded comment at the hearing or may submit comments to: Utah Transit Authority, c/o FLHQ FrontRunner Station, 3600 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119. Comments can also be submitted online at www.rideuta.com. All comments will become part of the public record if received or postmarked by November 21, 2008.
Livin’ Car Free
13 November, 2008
A few months ago, a guy rides/walks into the shop. That is not an unusual occurence in a bike shop, but this guy was different. He was riding a bike equipped with an Xtracycle. Around here, that is unusual. We chated a bit and quickly became friends. Two people with similar interests seem to be able to develop friendships fast. We talked a lot about Xtracycles, Rivendell bikes, and that kind of utility bike stuff that I love. I rarely meet someone who knows what I am talking about with all that stuff, so I keep my mouth shut most of the time where that is concerned. A few days later my new friend, Zac, showed up with his wife, Krysta and daughter Ren in tow to ride the new Gary Fisher Simple City. We chatted some more and they decided to come to the corridor priority openhouse with UDOT. Afterwards, they came over to our place to ride the bakfiets. Recently, Zac commented here on a couple of posts and I thereby discovered a few things about these friends of mine. They are car free as I suspected, and they have a blog. You can check it out here. I have added it to my RSS feed and I hope you will take the opportunity to follow a car free family living here in Utah Valley. They are proof positive that it can be done, even here!
Frontrunner South Status Update
1 November, 2008
The following email from UTA in my inbox this week:
Greetings,
Construction is progressing on UTA’s FrontRunner South Provo to Salt Lake Commuter Rail line. Below is the FrontRunner South quick construction update for the week of October 16. For a more comprehensive construction update, click here.
· Area 16 — Downtown Salt Lake City to 4500 South (Murray)
Construction Activity:
Fiber optics will continue to be relocated between Murray and Salt Lake City.
· Area 15 — 4500 South (Murray) to 7800 South (Midvale)
Construction Activity:
There are no construction activities to report in Area 15.
· Area 14 — 7800 South (Midvale) to Bangerter Highway (Draper/Bluffdale)
Construction Activity:
Construction is gearing up in Area 14. On Sunday, October 19th, a crane was set up at the track crossover near 144th South and the Union Pacific Railroad. A construction fence has also been installed behind Salt Lake Community College’s campus at 9800 South.
· Area 13 — Bangerter Highway (Draper/Bluffdale) to Thanksgiving Point (Lehi)
Construction Activity:
Crews continue to establish access in this area and prepare the site along the railroad corridor in Bluffdale and Lehi and throughout the Jordan Narrows. Work on the South Jordan Canal and embankment improvements will begin toward the end of October. Earthwork along the Union Pacific Railroad is also scheduled to begin in this area during the first part of November.
· Area 12 — Thanksgiving Point (Lehi) to Main Street (American Fork)
Construction Activity:
Extensive excavation work has taken place at the Lehi Park and Ride Lot near Thanksgiving Point as crews continue to clear and grub the area and begin drainage improvements. Construction is also taking place along the rail corridor in this area just south of 11000 North in Lehi.
· Area 11 — Main Street (American Fork) to 800 South (Orem)
Construction Activity:
Drainage improvements are currently taking place along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks from Orem to American Fork. Crews are also clearing and grubbing along this area in preparation for earthwork scheduled to begin the first part of November.
· Area 10 — 800 South (Orem) to Center Street (Provo)
Construction Activity:
FrontRunner construction continues to take place in Area 10 along the Union Pacific Railroad corridor between University Parkway in Orem and West Center Street in Provo. Drainage and irrigation structures are being improved by extending existing box culverts and waterways to accommodate the new FrontRunner track. Existing signal poles located in the right-of-way have also been removed in this area.
Crews have removed old railroad ties and rail all the way from 500 West in Provo to University Parkway in Orem. Materials removed from this area are either reused or recycled.
Thanks again for your interest in the FrontRunner South project. If you have construction related questions, please call our 24-hour construction hotline number at 1-888-800-8854. If you have specific questions about the FrontRunner South project, my contact information is listed below. To unsubscribe to this list, please click here.
Sincerely,
Marc Bowman
UTA Community Involvement Specialist
www.rideuta.com
801.236.4784
801.867.4573 (mobile)
