This November we'll get a chance to vote on a 25 cent tax increase earmarked for transportation. The Utah Taxpayer has already come out against it. Not surprisingly, the County Commission of Davis County has been heard giving such illuminating pearls as follows.

• "an opportunity for the residents to do their own prioritization."--Milburn
• And, "From the information I have received, personally, I see no reason to not put it out to the public and let them be educated on it."--Hansen
  
• And, ""Gridlock is a concern. Safety is a concern."--Downs

Well, with informational quotations such as this, I'm glad that Utah Taxpayer is weighing in with some logic.

"Raising sales taxes for transportation is a bad idea. Increased sales taxes do not encourage commuters to change driving habits by telecommuting, carpooling or living closer to work."

Steering County Growth

SL Trib on County growing pains.

The Pitfalls Of Democracies Vs. Republics

There were two dissenting votes to a resolution urging the implementation of a $10 transportation fee. Both the Mayor of North Salt Lake and Clinton argued against the fee.

I wonder how they would feel about a vote on a .25 cent sales tax hike coming in November?

I don't, frankly, know how I feel about these votes--Referendum or Initiative that take accountability from the elected and place it squarely no one.

I mean, are we supposed to hold the anonymous voter accountable?

Legacy Highway Moving

Legacy Highway is progressing, beginning in North Salt Lake.

Hat tip: Deseret News"

NIMBY's In WX See Red

The last stop in Davis County for commuter rail has been getting opposition from residents.

Let me just say this. There will never be enough parking for the less than 5% that choose to use the rail. Imagine what parking will be like if the rail is a success and has a full 5% use!

WX Residents Worried About Rail

Woods Cross citizens should not be alone in worrying about the new rail system. Farmington has a stop as well.

Hat tip: KSL

Funding Transportation: Solving Transportation Woes

The Utah Taxpayer is talking about the problems with funding transportation by increasing sales tax. Enjoy!

I have to say, having just returned from Hawaii, which has transportation problems of its own, I have a fresh perspective on the issues that we face here.

First, on Oahu, the highest posted speed limit is 55 miles an hour and the average is 35. Most people obey those limits. It takes a little work to get out of the 'rush' mentality that is in our blood here, but it is liberating to drive slowly. Not once did I fear for my life, which in Utah is an almost daily experience.

Second, on the North Shore, there's only one road to anywhere. They had a mudslide, while we were there, blocking off one direction travel. The solution? Just go the other way and loop around the other side of the island.

Hawaii is considering mass transit options, one form would be a high speed train moving from island to island, but the overall lesson should be that no matter how much money they throw at the problem, they won't 'solve' their transportation issues.

What ought we to do about congestion here? First, it might be wise to not fear, or loath, congestion as we do. Congestion is one sign of a healthy economy, and should give us a sense of the vitality of the people who live here. Second, we could drive responsibly. By all means, use the bus if you can, and obey the speed limit.

Chill out!

No matter how much money we throw at our transportation problems, we won't solve them here so its a good idea just to enjoy the ride.

Working Out Of The County: Davis County In The 80th Percentile

Davis County ranks in the top 80 percent of counties who's residents, ages 16 and over, work outside of the county. No other county in Utah can make that claim. Utah and Salt Lake Counties make the top 250, but neither is higher than the 35th percentile.

If that 'working out of the county' statistic were a baby, it would be a fat one.

Considering this, what might our problems be that other counties in Utah lack? Are we getting enough attention in areas of transportation, and infrastructure that we deserve? Mind you, I don't consider the bait-and-switch that was our registration fee hike to be legitimate attention from the state.

We could truly call ourselves an extreme bedroom community.

Transportation: Registration Fee Redux

This article illustrates how it is farcical to assume that by implementing a $10 fee for transportation needs in our area that we can be sure that more money will be spent here in the county. True, the state has assured us that we have earmarked funds, but what it hasn't said is that funds, otherwise spent here, will go elsewhere. UDOT has been circulating about town, leaving sound bites in its wake, to assure us that much of the States transportation need exists in, and around, Davis County.

Bottom line: UDOT determines the use of funds allocated to it. It funds needs according to the timing and priority of its own choosing.

Cities cannot be assured that their own needs will be funded first, or at all. Money provided by the registration fee could have been provided by the state. If there were a need, UDOT would, in theory, take care of it anyway.

The registration fee is yet another way of shifting the burden, while disguising the cost of transportation. And the real transportation needs of this County may yet be ignored.

SLTrib:Cities, county on path to Davis, Weber trail

For the Citizens Against Government Waste to consider something to be Pork, it must meet one of the following conditions.

• Requested by only one chamber of Congress;
• Not specifically authorized;
• Not competitively awarded;
• Not requested by the President;
• Greatly exceeds the President’s budget request or the previous year’s funding;
• Not the subject of congressional hearings; or
• Serves only a local or special interest.

As an aside, President James Monroe said we should give federal dollars “to great national works only, since if it were unlimited it would be liable to abuse and might be productive of evil.” That seems to be a less strict definition of pork.

The question is, should Davis County be asking for Federal Dollars to build a trail that runs through both Weber and Davis Counties? If I could allow myself to have two quotes of the day, then I might also include this one from Barry Burton, assistant community and economic development director for Davis County.

"It presents a great opportunity for commuters."

Cities, county on path to Davis, Weber trail

1SSB 17:Careless Driving Defined

274 41-6a-1715. Careless driving defined and prohibited.

275 A person operating a motor vehicle is guilty of careless driving if the person:
276 (1) commits two or more moving traffic violations under Title 41, Chapter 6a, Traffic
277 Code, in a series of acts within a single continuous period of driving: or
278 (2) commits a moving traffic violation under Title 41, Chapter 6a, Traffic Code, while
279 being distracted by one or more activities not related to the operation of a motor vehicle,
280 including:
281 (a) using a wireless telephone or other electronic device;
282 (b) eating, drinking, or smoking;
283 (c) physically attending to a passenger;
284 (d) searching for an item in the vehicle; or
285 (e) attending to personal hygiene or grooming.

I can hear it now.

"Ma'am, could you hang up the phone please. I'm ticketing you for rear-ending that car in front of you. But, also for the diaper change, Big Gulp, and nail polish on your toes. "

"No, I can't hold your cigarette while you get in your glove box."

Mayor Schaeffermeyer::Got To Like Her Style!

I like NSL's mayor, Shanna Schaeffermeyer. Even if I can't yet spell her name.

She stood up for NSL, fighting a commitment to Legacy Highway, by saying, "For our city, it's pushed so far west that we won't use it."

Contrast that with Centerville's Mayor. Mayor Russell got duped into letting UDOT plan a major artery through town, and downtown. Main Street to be precise.

We need mayors in Davis County that will stand up for the interests of their cities, when the overall goals of the larger state are harmful.

P.S. I hear that Mayor Schaeffermeyer has been holding the South Davis Recreation District board to a higher standard as well.

It doesn't hurt at all that she can't have a seat on the board.

She has a voice. And, she uses it.

Davis County mayors pass transportation resolutions

Legacy Slag Retesting

All this wouldn't be necessary if UDOT would just build a road that hovers 4 feet above the ground.
UDOT to retest slag for Legacy project

Was Your Day Worse Than Mine?

For the last week myself, and both kids have been sick. Thankfully, my wife has been keeping us from falling apart. With a cold, there's a time period in which a person finally starts to feel better, except for one thing.

The cough.

It kept me up last night, but I'd convinced myself that, blood-shot eyes and all, I would go to work.

The cold snap we've had seemed particularly bad this morning. Bad because my car wouldn't start and I'm a little inept at car repair.

Don't get me wrong. I've picked up some things along the way, but not enough to make it into work today.

I just got back from the repair shop.

All this has got me thinking about public transportation. I couldn't take the bus into work if I wanted too. The last I checked, UDOT wouldn't find a route for me because it was outside the 3 hour trip limit.

Thank goodness they stop at 3 hours!

School Boundaries: Valid Concerns

My thoughts on the Davis County School boundary dispute might not make friends with Davisparents.org, or the School Board. However, I think there are valid, and silly concerns in regards to the boundaries.

Valid Concerns

• Boundaries decided in secret without input from parents.
• No public comments from parents
• No additional public meetings

Silly Concerns

• Trying to minimize the impact on sports teams.
• Randy Smith's view that students safety will be impacted.

I feel I should explain the 'safety concern' issue. Questions of dangerous roads should be addressed, primarily, to local municipalities. If a road has a high incidence of accidents, it should be addressed by an ordinance, or by changing the layout of the road. Or, if it can be shown that the cause of many accidents are the carelessness of the drivers (common with teenagers), then education, or enforcement should be pursued. If Smith is serious about the safety of a particular road he will also ask the questions; Are drivers using safety belts? Should the speed limit be lowered, or raised? Are students provided with alternate modes of transportation to school? To quote from Davisparents.org

"Why is this road so dangerous? Some believe that it is because virtually all of Viewmont High students commute south in commuter traffic to school." (italics are mine)

To say that 'some believe' one thing, or another, really isn't saying anything. Who says? Wikipedia has identified this type of language as 'weasel words', because it supposes authority where there is none.

I anticipate a flood of comments to this post. Show me my error.

Utah: Number One for Light Rail

Utah has the highest allegiance to light-rail in the nation with 32.9% of our public transportation devoted to it. Not many in Utah even use public transportation at 2.6%, let alone light rail.

We build it, but we don't use it.

Take D.C. as an example of one that uses public transportation most heavily and has the highest implementation of heavy rail.

That's efficiency one shouldn't expect from Washington.

My wife tells me I'm too late to stop light-rail, and she's right. Truth be told, I haven't been a loud opponent against it. I'm still getting my voice in some of these things. Maybe I can make more of an impact in 2007.

Local officials pushing for road funds

My feeling on allotment caps, when we talk about tax revenue, is that they lead to waste. The legislature imposes caps on the amount of revenue that a particular area can utilize. Some of these sources of revenue vary, from year to year, in the amount of revenue that comes in, but the caps are fixed at an arbitrary level.

Some areas of government get too little money, and some get too much.

The Utah League of Cities and Towns(Deseret News) wants a sales tax cap removed that would allow municipalities to get more money from the State to spend on their roads.

I think it's a sound idea.

Rail Trumps Roads...in Theory

Life, Liberty, and Property has a good take on evidence (graph) that light rail, or commuter rail can move more people, using less physical space.

Daniels argument could be summarized thus, 'So, what?'

Daniel counters that we don't have the population densities required, in the U.S., to fully utilize rail. Rail systems never operate at a profit.

Roads do, however, get sufficient funding from gas taxes, and tolls.

Is your car smoking?

The County has started distributing smoking vehicle car pamphlets so you can rat out your neighbor. Once reported, people are required to get emissions testing done on their vehicle. You don't need a card to report someone, simply call 546-8860, extension 12(pdf).

“Smoking Vehicle” cards can be picked up at the Kaysville Tech Center, all 15 city halls, and all Davis County Government offices, libraries, and senior activity centers. For more information, call 546-8860.

Smoking car like smoking gun in Davis

Commuter Rail Plans-Bus Rapid Transit

Here(pdf) is the proposed rail line, and stations, for the Commuter rail that will weave its way through Davis County. Right now it consists of a thick black line with no specific route. When details get fleshed out, we'll have to see where the track gets laid.

Woods Cross is currently the first station(pdf) in Davis County, on the South, with a ten acre spot at 500 South, and 800 West. Its west of the I-15 ramp.

The next station to the north will be Farmington(pdf). It's twenty acres, and west of I-15, and South of Park Lane.

Another map of the corridor is here(gif), and here(gif).

Two lanes will be added to I-15 at 600 North in Salt Lake, and at Highway 89 in Farmington.

Also, Bus Rapid Transit "Light Rail on rubber tires" will go through South Davis County.