008 of 1986 - Support of Light-Rail Transit Systems along I-15 and State Street Corridor R 86-1
L R 86-2
JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR OF SALT LAKE CITY
AND THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL
IN SUPPORT OF LIGHT-RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEMS
ALONG THE INTERSTATE 15/STATE STREET CORRIDOR
RESOLUTION NO. 8 OF 1986
WHEREAS
The Salt Lake City metropolitan area is home to more than 1 million
people and is expected to grow by 35 percent to 1.36 million people by the
year 2000. This rapid increase in the population of Utah 's major urban area
has and will continue to place an increasingly serious strain on the Salt
Lake Valley' s transportation systems. It is clear that new systems must be
built immediately or the existing systems will be completely overloaded and
ineffective.
Salt Lake City is the commercial core of the State of Utah. As such,
the Mayor and Salt Lake City Council are keenly interested in improving the
orderly flow of workers, shoppers, residents and tourists into the City.
The Wasatch Front Regional Council, of which Salt Lake City is a
member, has been studying transit alternatives for the Interstate 15/State
Street Corridor in an effort to alleviate congestion now and in the future.
The Regional Council has developed at least seven options for the
improvement of the Corridor transportation system.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
The Mayor of Salt Lake City and the Salt Lake City Council strongly
urge the State of Utah, the Wasatch Front Regional Council and the Utah
Transit Authority to proceed immediately with plans and construction to add
to the capacity of the transportation systems that bisect the Salt Lake
Valley from north to south.
Specifically, the Mayor and City Council strongly recommend that a
"light-rail" trolley system be built from downtown Salt Lake City to the
southern reaches of the Valley. A light-rail system would be much more
cost-effective than expanding or renovating freeway systems. It would carry
more commuters per dollar spent than would a freeway, it would help reduce
air pollution, it would lessen downtown parking problems and it would
provide a steady stream of pedestrians needed to invigorate the hub of Salt
Lake City. Because of its geography and transportation patterns, the Salt
Lake Valley is very likely the most ideal site in America for a light-rail
system.
Adding more lanes to the freeway system would only create room for
more traffic, for more congestion. And, it only solves half the problem.
Where will the additional cars park once they reach the City? The Mayor and
City Council are unable, and unwilling, to commit City resources for vast
municipal parking lots to serve motorists streaming downtown on the
freeway. The economic strain would be too great for the taxpayers of Salt
Lake City.
TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR RESOLUTION
Page Two
A light-rail system is a far more logical choice as a transportation
solution. If demand increases, as it surely will, more trolley cars can
simply be added to the tracks. An expanded freeway will only become
obsolete and in need of futher expansion, probably in less than a decade.
It would be prudent to renovate the existing freeway facilities, however.
Finally, the Mayor and City Council urge the State of Utah and the
Utah Transit Authority to look beyond the Salt Lake Valley's transportation
needs and to plan additional phases of a light-rail system that will
connect the capital city with Ogden and Provo/Orem --- - --- --
ADOPTED THIS 21st DAY OF JANUARY 1986
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Mayor Chairperson
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council Membe oun a er
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ATTEST:
*Katryn'larshall, City Recorder