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JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19 OF 2013
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SALT LAKE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR ADOPTING A LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE FOR
SUGAR HOUSE STREETCAR PHASE 2
WHEREAS, the Utah Transit Authority (“UTA”) is a public transit district and is in the process of expanding its fixed guideway systems to include a 2-mile rail fixed guideway system from the Sugar House community of Salt Lake City to the City of South Salt Lake, as more particularly described herein (the “Sugar House Transit Corridor”); and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City’s Sugar House Community Master Plan (adopted December 13, 2005, Ordinance 89 of 2005) explicitly identifies in its ‘Business District Goals and Objectives’ the theme of “directing development to be transit and pedestrian oriented”; and
WHEREAS, the Sugar House Community Master Plan explicitly states in its ‘Multi-modal Priorities’ that future land use patterns in Sugar House should support
the implementation of mass transit throughout the community; and
WHEREAS, the Sugar House Community Master Plan explicitly states support for the construction of “rail along the Sugar House rail corridor and determine locations for future transit stations and park and ride facilities within the Sugar House Business District”; and
WHEREAS, construction and operation of a fixed guideway transit system in the Sugar House Transit Corridor will reduce reliance on the private automobile, improve air quality, reduce the growth of vehicle miles traveled, and support the objectives of the Wasatch Front Regional Council’s Regional Transportation Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency has commissioned an alternatives analysis study for the extension of the Sugar House Streetcar line being constructed by UTA from the Sugar House Transit Corridor to areas within Sugar House (the “Phase 2 Alternatives Analysis”); and
WHEREAS, the Phase 2 Alternatives Analysis includes the following elements based on the Purpose and Need Statement adopted for the Analysis: (1) The development of community goals in consultation with stakeholders and the public; (2) Development of evaluation criteria and objective methodology by which to compare alternatives. Criteria included ridership, cost, economic development potential, timing, environmental concerns, and public input; (3) Development of alternatives based on results of a public workshop; (4) Screening and narrowing of alternatives using objective criteria; (5) Detailed evaluation of a final list of alternatives developing such information as ridership, cost, environmental constraints, constructability issues, economic development, and timing. Ridership was prepared outside of the regional travel demand model, and relative to the appropriate local scale for streetcars; (6) A robust public process, including stakeholder group meetings, individual meetings, public open houses, community council presentations, participation in community events and a presentation of the recommendation in a public forum; and (7) Recommendation based on technical analysis and public process.
WHEREAS, the Phase 2 Alternatives Analysis has been completed in compliance with federal requirements, and Salt Lake City has reviewed the analysis, and finds that it complies with the requirements of the City and accepts its analysis of impacts, costs, environmental constraints, and ridership; and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City understands that more specific environmental issues will be reviewed, evaluated, and addressed during subsequent design and engineering phases of the project and at that time more specific mitigation measures related to specific impacts will be determined; and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City recognizes that the public engagement process will continue through subsequent environmental analysis, design, funding and construction phases of the project; and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City believes that the conclusions of the Phase 2 Alternatives Analysis and a proposed project consistent with the analysis best meets the needs of the City as a whole, and is in the best interest of the public health, safety, and welfare of the City; and
WHEREAS, at its meeting on August 6, 2012, the Salt Lake City Transportation Advisory Board approved a motion supporting the findings and recommendations of the Phase 2 Alternatives Analysis for a modern rail streetcar to continue along the Sugarmont corridor, then through Simpson Avenue to Highland Drive and turn north along Highland Drive, turning into 1100 East, until 1700 South, within the City owned right of way; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Salt Lake City Council and Mayor as follows:
1. Locally Preferred Alternative. That the proposed construction of the rail fixed guideway system for purposes of operating for a modern rail streetcar to continue along the Sugarmont corridor, then through Simpson Avenue to Highland Drive and turn north along Highland Drive, turning into 1100 East, until 1700 South, within the City owned right of way, recommended as a result of a technical alternatives analysis and public input process, is endorsed and approved by the Salt Lake City Council and Mayor as the Locally Preferred Alternative.
2. Public Impacts. The locally preferred alternative is adopted with the understanding that, as with any major project, community impacts will be evaluated, and the project will not proceed unless the impacts are not significant and can be mitigated.
Some items that could be evaluated include: (a) Traffic mitigation strategies for streets adjacent to 1100 East Street; (b) Access of emergency vehicles; (c) Preservation of our historic trees; and (d) Adequate cycling routes for bicycles.
3. Legislative Intent. It also is the City Council’s intent that a committee or association of residents and business owners be created to have a voice in any required studies and in the design of the street car line and the timing of the line’s construction.
4. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage.
Passed and Adopted by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, this 7th day of May, 2013.