30 September 1999

  • A bill has been approved that gives the thumbs up to the Downtown Salt Lake to University of Utah section of the East/West light rail line as part of the transportation budget. The House failed in its attempts (led by Utah Rep. Merrill Cooke who has flipped flopped on his position many times) to add a rider to the bill to kill the line. Because this line will serve the Olympic Games in 2002, it can be put on fast-track design/build allowing the bids to go out by the end of the year, and construction to start when the snow melts. This is the same method used to pay for the reconstruction of I-15, and to have the 20 year project done in 4 years.
  • Due to the accident involving a light rail vehicle and a trainee operator, the free rides that where to be offered on Saturdays in October have been moved November. UTA wanted additional time to retrain the operators on the safety measures with the line.
  • On September 23, Amtrak sent out a job posting for Product Manager for the Las Vegas service. This comes even though the UP says that they do not have a contract with Amtrak to run the train yet, even though they are close.
  • Amtrak and the states of Oregon and Idaho are proceeding with plans for the Boise-Portland train. The states and Amtrak in the process of securing the funding for the route and getting commitments from the shippers.
  • Several groups have come out in opposition to plans to expand Highway 93 from Missoula to Darby, MT. It is being called one of the most wasteful road projects that is proposed throughout the country. One of the problems with the project opponents say, is that there will be no safety improvements to the Montana Rail Link line that runs along the entire route of the project. There is several grade crossings along the line that are dangerous, but only have crossbucks and no other warning devices. Some of the opposition is also calling for rail passenger service on the MRL route to relieve congestion on HWY 93. The corridor from Hamilton to Missoula has seen rapid development in the last 10 years. One idea would be to run vehicles such as the Siemens Regio Sprinter on the route.