Transportation Committee Meeting Notes November 17,  2009

Transportation Committee Minutes Meeting at Sprague Library 6:00 PM Attendees:

Rawlins Young, Chairman

Maggie Shaw, Member

Jim Brown, Member

LeeAnn Diamond, Member

Larry Migliaccio, Member

Rawlins called the meeting to order and mentioned that the next meeting will be held on 15 Dec. at 6:00 pm at the Sprague Library.

Rawlins mentioned that the Garfield School had been sold to Westminster.  He mentioned that we should get in touch with Dan Bergenthal of the City and Annalisa Steggel of Westminster to find out if any planning is being done for the Emigration Creek Trail.  He thought this might be a good opportunity to get the trail addressed in the area.

We talked about the large list of tasks for the transportation committee.  Following is a list of items that the Transportation Committee will devote time to in the future.   Because there are such a great number of issues requiring attention, the TC will need to prioritize the list.  The list may change as development occurs or an emergency need arises.

Item Description

Item 1. Salt Lake Jordan Canal Trail  

The Sugar House Master Plan calls for development of this trail in the future.  This item was discusses in teh last Trustee meeting.  There was a lot of opposition because of property rights issues.  Larry mentioned we should work on areas where the trail is poosible but not tackle the entire trail at one time because of impracticality associated with some areas due to current buildings adjacent to the trail, etc.  The canal goes in the east driveway of Fiddlers Elbow.  This is a good example of an area where building the trail is virtually impossible.  However, several areas along the proposed canal lend themselves to a trail system.

Item 2.  Parley’s Rail to Trails

Item 3.  Emigration Canyon Trail 

Item 4.  Sugar House in Motion “Transportation Master Plan”

With large developments imminent in the Sugar House Business District including but not limited to Red Mountain Development, mecham Properties, Westminster Residence Hall and Classrooms and changes including the Sugar House Trolley and relocation of Deseret Industries, it is important to coordinate this development with pedestrian/bike-friendly walkways, parking, and traffic circulation.  Without a master plan, the area will become even more congested and unsafe.  The transportation committee must do everything possible to get this important planning started and work proactively with development projects for the benefit of the travelling public as well as the developers and existing businesses.

Item 5.  Sugar House Trolley

The trolley is planned for location on Sugarmont Avenue.  The terminus in the Sugar House Business District is now being planned along with the single or double track alternative.  This project impacts the Fiarmont Park Master Plan, traffic patterns and pedestrian bike traffic.  The City is solidly behind the project and the likelihood of funding is good.  The transportation committee must work proactively with the planners and citizen stakeholders, developers and existing businesses to maximize this project for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Item 6.  1300 East Construction, Bike Path and Roadway Changes

SLC is installing a bike path along 1300 East and installing traffic calming (islands), reducing the speed limit and installing hawk lights at intersections.  Work is proceeding.  The transportation committee should observe the project and its impacts and improvements on safety as well as affeects on traffic.  Input should be made to SLC as observations are made.  If changes are necessary, it is easier to affect them during construction than after...

Item 7.  Pedestrian Safety 900 E to 1300 E on 2100 South

Several pedestrian accidents including fatalities have occurred on the busy road.  The committee should work with the City traffic planners to make improvements to crosswalks, signals, parking locations, etc. to improve pedetrian safety as well as traffic flow in this critical zone.  Future development (See item 4.) should be considered as well.

Item 8.  Pedestrian and Bike Trail Connector between Westminster and Business District

Westminster College is planning a residence hall/classroom facility on 1300 East just south of the Chevron Station in the Sugar House business district.  To reduce traffic impacts, a bike-pedestrain connection is necessary between the college at 1700 South and the residence hall.  The TC should work with Westminster and SLC traffic to provide input for this necessary connection.

Item 9.  Westminster Garfield School and the Emigration Creek Trail…see above discussion. 

Item 10.  Sugarmont connection to Wilmington 

Item 11.  Neighborhood Issues

a.      Construction planned by City

b.      Take a resident survey to see what residents consider to be priorities 

Item 12.  Reconfigure Bike Lanes

Maggie mentioned some cities have the bike lane at the curb with parking inside the bike lane and traffic inside the parking.  The parking serves as a traffic calming device to slow vehicles.  There may be some areas where this might be appropriate.

Item 13.  Update Sugar House Master Plan due to impending development and traffic congestion.