The Utah Transit Authority continues to take steps to trim costs and increase revenues in the wake of the economic recession. Executives there are not only considering major fare changes, but as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, now they’re trying to make it easier to re-hire retired employees for temporary work, which would save money on hiring and training costs.
Big changes are coming to UTA. In a meeting earlier this week, officials began discussing new fare modifications that would lower the price many riders pay. KCPW’s Jessica Gail explains how the new system will work and why the agency says it will improve its bottom line.
Local sixth-graders are joining the debate over whether Salt Lake City should fine people for idling their vehicles. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, all the students agreed idling is bad for the environment and their health, but a few say that a mandate is going too far.
Salt Lake City is hosting the National Conference for Tourism Professionals this year. It’s where state and city tourism officials from across the country learn about new trends in beefing up the tourism industry. The three-day conference at the Grand America Hotel wraps up today and as KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, the focus is making travel easier by harnessing the latest technology and loosening up travel regulations.
TRAX riders making daily commutes into downtown Salt Lake City and the University of Utah have mixed feelings about the route changes the Utah Transit Authority implemented two weeks ago. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, some say the changes make more sense for their commute, while others say it makes theirs more difficult and time consuming.
The southern part of the Salt Lake Valley is growing and with that growth comes the need for expanded roads and highways, which is exactly what UDOT has been working on for the last 16 months. The Mountain View Corridor, a freeway planned to help meet the projected transportation demands in the area, is now a third of the way done. And as KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports, people living nearby say it’s long overdue.
Salt Lake City’s new natural gas-powered garbage trucks were unveiled today as part of an ongoing effort program to “green” the city’s fleet of service vehicles. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, the new trucks will replace the city’s diesel-powered sanitation trucks, which the city says will be a cheaper, quieter, and cleaner alternative.
Salt Lake City’s re-built North Temple viaduct is finally complete after nearly three years of construction. As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, Mayor Ralph Becker joined a celebrating crowd on 400 west this morning before trekking up the bridge and finally signaling traffic to pass through.
The Utah Department of Transportation says it’s found a way to improve traffic flow on some streets, decrease excessive delays and enhance safety for motorists and pedestrians by eliminating left turns. UDOT will begin work Monday on the state’s first Thru Turn Intersection at 123rd South and State Street, where drivers sometimes wait two minutes to move through during peak traffic. UDOT Spokesman Adan Carrillo says it essentially encourages U turns, but makes them safer.
The Utah Transit Authority and cities on Salt Lake County’s west side are celebrating the completion of the Mid-Jordan and West Valley TRAX lines, which will open for service on Sunday. Officials hosted a ceremony this morning in South Jordan before hitching a ride on the light rail line to West Valley City. KCPW’s Whittney Evans was in West Valley’s new Fairbourne Station for the celebration.
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