The fight against light rail in South Davis County... (Ogden: sales, townhouse)
Salt Lake City areaSalt Lake County - Davis County - Weber County
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Ah, South Davis... sometimes I wonder why I live here. I went to the UTA meeting about a possible trax extension through Bountiful and Centerville and saw it for myself. Hundreds of mostly retired people arguing loudly against the idea.
The only logical argument I heard was the possiblity of a tax increase. Everything else came down to the desire to resist change. They feel the local government has utopian delusions of making the two communities into trendy "new urbanist" cities and they are hellbent on keeping the completely bland, car based, cookie-cutter suburban landscape their generation built.
The younger generation was conspicuously absent. Perhaps they were too busy working two jobs just to make ends meet. Perhaps there are no other young people living there . But I can't be the only person that would appreciate being able to just jump on the train and buzz downtown to work (and play). Not to mention that gas will almost certainly be north of $10 a gallon well before my retirement age. Nor would I be adverse to a little bit of culture here and even some "new urbanism" too.
There probably aren't many other South Davis folks here, but what do you think? Is it short-sighted to block the train or is better to "stop it in it's tracks"
I'm all for it. Plus, it would go through the marmalade nabe in Salt Lake, which would be good for the area. The funniest of arguments is they kept mentioning 'safety'. People have this idea that rail lines are dangerous and kill people all the time. Anyone with common sense knows vehicles are much more dangerous. I mean a rail is on a RAIL. It can't vary from it like a car.
Ah, South Davis... sometimes I wonder why I live here. I went to the UTA meeting about a possible trax extension through Bountiful and Centerville and saw it for myself. Hundreds of mostly retired people arguing loudly against the idea.
The only logical argument I heard was the possiblity of a tax increase. Everything else came down to the desire to resist change. They feel the local government has utopian delusions of making the two communities into trendy "new urbanist" cities and they are hellbent on keeping the completely bland, car based, cookie-cutter suburban landscape their generation built.
The younger generation was conspicuously absent. Perhaps they were too busy working two jobs just to make ends meet. Perhaps there are no other young people living there . But I can't be the only person that would appreciate being able to just jump on the train and buzz downtown to work (and play). Not to mention that gas will almost certainly be north of $10 a gallon well before my retirement age. Nor would I be adverse to a little bit of culture here and even some "new urbanism" too.
There probably aren't many other South Davis folks here, but what do you think? Is it short-sighted to block the train or is better to "stop it in it's tracks"
.................................................. ...............................................
I am a North Davis or Central Davis person.
I think what you are saying highlights the true meaning of the word "conservative". Most people tend to think of being conservative or liberal in terms of politics or on social issues. The correct definition of a conservative though is simply one who tends to oppose change.
We see alot of that in places like Bountiful. I think alot of people put on their "rose colored glasses" and gaze backwards on a past that never was. I think Utah tends to attract people like that or at least it is more of a safe-haven for them than other states. It strikes me that there is a huge fear of change that is almost irrational among some groups.
You are quite correct that you tend to see the elderly at public meetings more than younger people. If you gauge everything from rates of voter-participation, letters-to-the-editor in local papers, and attendance at the legislature you'll see that the elderly are very heavily represented. Ever wonder why Congress is so reluctant to tamper with social security? The heavy participation of the elderly in all aspects of the political process is a major reason why.
I think getting TRAX in Bountiful and Centerville is a cool idea. I hope it happens within my lifetime.
I'm all for it. Plus, it would go through the marmalade nabe in Salt Lake, which would be good for the area. The funniest of arguments is they kept mentioning 'safety'. People have this idea that rail lines are dangerous and kill people all the time. Anyone with common sense knows vehicles are much more dangerous. I mean a rail is on a RAIL. It can't vary from it like a car.
Yea I love that argument... Oh no! Our kids will be in danger if light rail goes down Main street....
.... because right now we *always* let our kids play around a busy main road with crumbling teeny weenie sidewalks and a million cars blasting along at 50+ MPH. Lord forbid a slow train goes down the middle, the speed limit is reduced to 25, the roads narrowed, the sidewalks widened and train stop with a step off zone in the middle of the road be put in. That would make it soooo much more dangerous, wouldn't it?
I think what you are saying highlights the true meaning of the word "conservative". Most people tend to think of being conservative or liberal in terms of politics or on social issues. The correct definition of a conservative though is simply one who tends to oppose change.
We see alot of that in places like Bountiful. I think alot of people put on their "rose colored glasses" and gaze backwards on a past that never was. I think Utah tends to attract people like that or at least it is more of a safe-haven for them than other states. It strikes me that there is a huge fear of change that is almost irrational among some groups.
You are quite correct that you tend to see the elderly at public meetings more than younger people. If you gauge everything from rates of voter-participation, letters-to-the-editor in local papers, and attendance at the legislature you'll see that the elderly are very heavily represented. Ever wonder why Congress is so reluctant to tamper with social security? The heavy participation of the elderly in all aspects of the political process is a major reason why.
My generation is gonna pay a steep price for being politically inactive.
Actually if they looked back to the past, they'd see trolleys in it No one seemed to oppose the incredible change cars brought. We've designed our entire cities and lives around this relatively (last 100 years) new invention.
Actually if they looked back to the past, they'd see trolleys in it No one seemed to oppose the incredible change cars brought. We've designed our entire cities and lives around this relatively (last 100 years) new invention.
That's exactly what I was thinking. The street my townhouse is on in Ogden still has the trolley rail in the middle of the street . I think adding the transportation is a great idea, and good for the environment as well.
Actually if they looked back to the past, they'd see trolleys in it No one seemed to oppose the incredible change cars brought. We've designed our entire cities and lives around this relatively (last 100 years) new invention.
It's kind of ironic how the oldest people are too young to remember a world without cars. I wonder how many of them know there was a trolley going down Main street in Centerville and Bountiful in the late teens-through the 20's, AND the Bamberger rail line from SLC to Lagoon.
That's human nature, I guess. It is probably why the past always seems to be fated to repeat itself.
I live in Charlotte, NC, and two years ago we open our first light rail line. It has been a success. The first year, they were speculating that around 8000 would ride it daily, well, actually, we top 25000 the first year, which was the prediction for 10 years in the future. Yes we had 1/2 penny sales tax increase, but it was worth it. The 9 miles track, which runs from South Charlotte to downtown, has been a blessing our road congestion and the image of the city. Even Atlanta and Austin had their local officials coming to our city to study our successful light rail. Don't let any one stop progress. Good luck.
As a Bountiful resident and public transit user, I am all for more options. However, the bus lines running now in Bountiful are super convenient already for my commute to work. I am not sure having a TRAX extension to Bountiful will make my life easier but if it does for others, I'm game.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
. But I can't be the only person that would appreciate being able to just jump on the train and buzz downtown to work (and play). Not to mention that gas will almost certainly be north of $10 a gallon well before my retirement age. Nor would I be adverse to a little bit of culture here and even some "new urbanism" too. 
No one seemed to oppose the incredible change cars brought. We've designed our entire cities and lives around this relatively (last 100 years) new invention.
. I think adding the transportation is a great idea, and good for the environment as well.
