From: "Friends of Transit" To: Subject: Transit Article from Salt Lake City Date: Thursday, April 08, 2004 1:15 PM > > Friends, > > > > Earlier this week, we sent you an article from Houston showing that actual > > ridership figures are far surpassing initial projections. > > > > So much for the naysayers that claim people won't ride a light rail > system. > > > > Of course, light rail does more than just provide commuters a way to get > > around the traffic congestion. It also stimulates the economy and creates > > high-quality infill development. > > > > Below is the text of an article from the Salt Lake Tribune. Clearly, the > > TRAX system in Salt Lake City (their light rail system) is a huge > success - > > both from a ridership perspective and in its efforts to promote quality > > development. > > > > Clearly, the naysayers won't be able to refute these kinds of facts about > > projects that are having resounding success. > > > > To learn more about the 'myths' the naysayers are spouting and how to > refute > > them, visit www.friendsoftransit.org > > > > David Schwartz > > Executive Director > > > > (Aticle below) > > > > New TRAX station slated for 900 S. and 200 W. > > > > > > > > By Joe Baird > > The Salt Lake Tribune > > > > A series of modest, but distinctive housing developments has sprung up > > just south of downtown Salt Lake City in anticipation of a new TRAX light > > rail stop at 900 South and 200 West. > > Utah Transit Authority (UTA) officials and Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky > > Anderson confirmed Tuesday that not only has the stop been approved, it > > could be operational by the end of the year if funding is resolved. > > "It's going to get done; there's no question about it," said Anderson, > > on hand for the unveiling of a new affordable housing project along 200 > > West, less than half a block from the proposed station site. > > When completed, the 900 South station will be unique in the TRAX > > system -- the light-rail line's first truly urban residential station. > > Surrounded by high-density housing, the new stop will not include a > > park-and-ride lot. But city officials and developers predict that > density -- > > combined with the station's proximity to downtown, should make it > attractive > > to younger residents, and perhaps empty nesters looking for an affordable > > area with a bit of flair. > > D.J. Baxter, Anderson's transportation adviser, says $500,000 in > > Redevelopment Agency money has been earmarked for the new TRAX stop. That > is > > roughly $500,000 less than UTA says it will need to construct the platform > > on the north side of the intersection at 900 South and 200 West. > > Jeff Harris, UTA's chief development official, says UTA and the city > are > > studying ways to bring down the cost of the station, while at the same > time > > maintaining the look and feel of the other stops on the north-south line. > > "A large portion of the cost is associated with doing the construction > > at night, when the trains aren't running -- and permitting issues," he > said. > > "But . . . we think we could get it constructed during this [construction] > > season and open by late 2004." > > Developer and Salt Lake County mayoral candidate Peter Corroon > > officially opened his new six-story, 25-unit apartment building Tuesday, > the > > third such affordable housing project on the block. > > "It's a neighborhood that's developing a little bit of artistic chic, > > for lack of a better term," he said "It's such a great location, and > there's > > really nothing that services the area, so a [TRAX station] will be nice to > > have." > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >