More than a name

I'd like to point all of our friends and trolley neighbors to this article featured in the Standard Examiner:

East Central vs. Trolley District? A new name, a new image

This is a great overview of the area, and our growing community organization.  An especially great read for anyone interested in learning more about this place that we love so much.  Of course we have to say that our work and advocacy is far more than a name -- it's about identity, perception, and vision.  We are working together to revitalize a critical core of the city and the county - the success or failure of the heart of the city will determine the vitality and sustainability of an entire region. 

This is why we are working so hard towards realizing a modern transit system based on historic precedent that will reconnect Ogden's commercial core with a significant population base in the Trolley District and East Bench.  Streetcars are a proven precedent for popular and efficient transportation as well as community vitality, and economic redevelopment.  The 25th Street and Harrison Corridors have the greatest need both in terms of sustainable transportation solutions, and also economic revitalization.  Any regional transportation investment - especially a $150 million dollar one should be based on the fundamental idea of revitalizing the core of Ogden as the core of Weber County.  A successful streetcar project will increase the likelihood of future streetcar projects in the region being developed - while a poorly planned and badly placed streetcar may become a case-in-point for anti-transit individuals and organizations.

The name Trolley District is a moniker of our past and our future; and for the city of Ogden, it has become a rallying cry for those dedicated to the revitalization of the City of Ogden!

Standard Examiner Article - We ask what is the REAL cost?

The article entitled "Cost may make streetcar placement irrelevant" by Charles Trentelman is an excellent summary of where we are at with this whole streetcar process - and why we need your letters to the Editor!  The points are well laid out in this article:

1. Community and stakeholders agree 25th street is best route
2. The cost estimates on all routes are out of control (we believe this is due to largely to over-engineering)
3. There has clearly been no longterm community or regional transportation planning
4. UTA goes with the easiest thing to do rather than planning and going with the right thing to do for the community!

Here is a link to the article...

IMPORTANT STREETCAR UPDATE

Dear Trolley District Neighbors,

It is with great frustration and disappointment that I am writing to you today.  We have suffered a major setback in our efforts to revitalize the city of Ogden and the Trolley District, with the promise of restoring urban rail transit.  The “Stakeholder” group that met yesterday, voted to move into the next phase of project development with the Washington-36th street alignment, also including “some language” about considering Washington-30th Street as a possible alternative.   While we are disappointed in this outcome, it is not unexpected for two reasons:  1.  UTA has clearly had a 36th Street outcome planned since the beginning of this process and has imposed this bias in all of the reports and meetings that have been held to date.  And 2.  UTA selected a “Stakeholder” committee that largely defies the definition of what a Stakeholder is...aside from our two Council Members and Mayor none of the stakeholders live in any proximity to the proposed streetcar, will likely never ride it, and have no direct-relationship to the effects of their decision in this matter.

We at the Trolley District are seriously disappointed in UTA’s continued disregard for the public that it is appointed to serve.  Even after meeting with our group and agreeing to a compromise of taking both the 36th street and the 25th street alignments into the next phase of project development, UTA in bad faith did not see this commitment through.  This outcome is just another example in a recent string of corruption and poor decision making on the part of a bureaucracy that is clearly out of control!

Now we must prepare for the upcoming community meeting where UTA expects to present their findings and receive public feedback as part of the formal public process.  We know that UTA sees this as a mere formality, but we need to show them that the public is invested in the future of our community! Please contact your city council person and tell them how you feel about streetcars, and ask them to look at a long-range plan for Harrison Boulevard so that this corridor does not become a 7-lane highway.  And, plan on being out if full force at the public comment meeting!  We have not heard the details yet on the time and place of the meeting, but we will let you know as soon as we hear anything!

Thank you for your continued support!

The Trolley District