2011 January

Hop the 200 to the Mediterranean Deli

Filed in Urban Ticket Tagged with bus, Lunch, Mediterranean Deli, Route 200, Salt Lake City, State Street, Transit Roulette January 28th, 2011 @ 6:28 am

Traveling down State Street on route 200, you’re bound to come across a few unique shops and one of a kind stops. Hop off the bus at at 3942 South State Street and check out one of the area’s best – a tasty tradition that’s been around since 1958 – Mediterranean Deli.

The menu features several dozen items from a variety of panini and sub sandwiches to heartier fare like lasagna and pasta. The prices are reasonable – starting at about $5 – and the portions very generous.

Don’t arrive at the Mediterranean expecting fine china and silver. The large portions are served on paper plates, with plastic ware and the tables are covered with simple, brightly colored cloth. You will however, find some of the most exquisite Mediterranean imports in the little shop located within the restaurant.

Be aware. Mediterranean Deli is only open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. so if you’re hoping to catch them for dinner, pop in early and order take out!

Tea for two: Sundance and you

Filed in Urban Ticket January 21st, 2011 @ 6:00 am

Sundance Film Festival 2011 starts Thurs., Jan. 20. The hottest new indie films will be screening at venues in Park City, Salt Lake City and Ogden. If you missed out on tickets but still wanted to experience the festival excitement, stop by the Beehive Tea Room–the official Salt Lake City Festival Cafe. Enjoy the relaxing, vintage atmosphere, great food and hot beverages. There will be live music each night from 8 to 11 p.m. Jan. 21 through Jan. 29. And who knows…maybe you’ll find yourself sipping tea with a star.

Ride UTA to Salt Lake City Screenings

Take TRAX to Gallivan Plaza Station where three venues are within walking distance:

Broadway Centre Cinemas (111 East Broadway, tickets required), walk one block east on 300 South.
Rose Wagner Theatre (138 West Broadway, ticket required), walk west 1.5 blocks on 300 South.
Beehive Tea Room (12 west Broadway, open to the public). Just walk west on 300 South.

Or take the bus for screenings at the Tower Theatre (900 South (876 East 900 South), check out bus route 209.

For screenings in Park City, use the festival transportation shuttles.

Rail safety activities for kids

Filed in Mom Aboard Tagged with Kids, Mom Aboard, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Train, TRAX January 18th, 2011 @ 8:43 pm

Like Thomas the Train, Lionel railroad sets and the Hogwarts Express UTA’s TRAX draw the interest of little kids throughout the Salt Lake Valley. That’s why it’s so vital that those children be trained in rail safety.

UTA works hard to ensure that rail safety training is provided in schools close to it’s rail lines. But it’s likely we wont reach every child that lives near a rail line.

Fortunately, there are dozens of rail safety resources available on the web to parents and caregivers. One of our favorite teaching aids is a cartoon, Sly Fox and Birdie, developed by Operation Lifesaver – a national organization dedicated to rail safety education.

Try showing your kids this Sly Fox and Birdie rail safety cartoon:

Another option? Take a look at the Sly Fox and Birdie activity pages available for download. Here’s an example:

Still have questions about rail safety for kids? Feel free to ask!

Is there such a thing as a free ride?

Filed in Trains of Thought Tagged with Air quality, bus, Clear the Air, Fare, FrontRunner, Red Burn, Salt Lake City, TRAX January 18th, 2011 @ 12:21 pm

Each winter inversion traps a blanket of dirty air in Utah’s valleys. Already this season, the United States Government has deemed Utah’s valley air quality as some of the worst in the nation, so it is no surprise that many Utahns are looking to find ways to improve the air quality.

UTA supports the efforts of those dedicated to improving our fragile environment and has established relationships with prominent organizations like Salt Lake City’s Care to Clear the Air. Last week we shared information about a series of learn to ride events associated with the organization’s Clear the Air Challenge – there are still three events you can attend in January.

Recently, a campaign promoting free TRAX on red burn days popped up on FaceBook. With over 50 percent of bad air particles coming from motor vehicles, the idea has come up before. In fact UTA, in partnership with the Governor’s Office, hosted a free learn to ride day last February. The concept was popular and UTA saw increases on all modes (bus, TRAX, and train). However, there was a significant cost associated.

UTA is already facing budget challenges due to the economic downturn; sales tax revenues have dropped by tens of millions of dollars over the past two years, and this impacts UTA’s short and long-term operations budget. Providing free rides on red burn days would cost the agency up to $5 million each year, so the question becomes where does the money to fund an initiative like this come from?

The idea seems simple, but in reality the discussion is much more complex. The additional loss of revenue could put UTA in the always difficult position of having to reduce service – a solution that ultimately means less transit service for people to use on red burn days doesn’t seem appropriate.

While UTA is not in a position to offer free rides at this time, the agency encourages thoughtful dialog regarding this issue and would be happy to answer your questions.

In the meantime, there are a number of ways you can make choices that will aid in the fight to improve Utah’s air quality. Reduce your number of miles traveled by utilizing our transit system, participate in the Rideshare program or a private carpool and telecommuting.

DP Cheesesteaks: Casual dining on 300 South

Filed in Urban Ticket Tagged with DP Cheesesteak, Salt Lake City, Transit Roulette, TRAX January 14th, 2011 @ 8:23 am

DP Cheesesteak: Casual dining on 300 South

Looking for a truly great cheesteak? There are few options better than DP Cheesesteaks at 300 South 83 East, just around the corner from the Gallivan Center TRAX Station.

With about a dozen different cheesesteaks on the menu – from traditional to the Philly Bleu – there is something for everyone at DP Cheesesteaks. Prices range from just under $5 for a 6 inch sandwich to $10 for a full 12 inch.

Take the train downtown and enjoy the cheesesteak City Weekly readers named “Best Cheesesteak” in 2010!

Operation Lifesaver: Rail Safety for Kids

Filed in Mom Aboard Tagged with Education, FrontLines 2015, Kids, Mom Aboard, Operation Lifesaver, Safety, TRAX January 13th, 2011 @ 4:10 pm

Surprisingly, kids do have a volume switch— it turns in one direction. It’s amazing just how loud a gymnasium full of elementary students can really get — even the kids themselves cover their ears from the noise. However, if the best way to deliver the message, “Look, Listen, and Live,” is to shout it at the top of our lungs, then we’ll yell until we’re blue in the face; it’s a message that matters because it could save a life.

Prior to opening the Mid-Jordan and West Valley light rail lines, UTA is taking an active role in educating and keeping kids safe. Once construction on the two lines is completed in the coming months, UTA will be testing its light rail trains and signals running through communities in West Valley, South Salt Lake, West Jordan, South Jordan, Midvale and Murray. Even drivers will need a new mind-set as they get used to trains running down the middle of their street. Regular schedules and operations are not slated to begin until Aug. 7, 2011, but drivers and pedestrians need to be aware of the potential hazards of crossing in front of a high-velocity steam roller.

“So, when is it train time?” UTA’s Aaron Mentzer recently asked students at Terra Linda Elementary School in West Jordan. “Anytime is train time,” students shout back, but it isn’t loud enough, yet. Mentzer egged them on to shout even louder– the air humming like the rumbling of a freight train… but it still may not be loud enough. That’s why UTA is repeating this message again and again and for as long as we can. Please contact us for more information on Operational Lifesaver.

If you would like UTA to make an Operation Lifesaver at your child’s school, please have the teacher/principal contact Chad Saley at 801-287-2290.

Public hearings scheduled for April 2011 proposed service changes

Filed in Trains of Thought Tagged with bus, Change Day, Ogden, Public Hearing, Trains of Thought, UTA, Utah County, Utah Transit Authority January 11th, 2011 @ 6:31 pm

UTA is proposing several service changes to bus service in Box Elder, Davis, Weber and Utah counties.

The changes proposed are based on current ridership, efficiencies and 2011 budget projections. Although a number of the changes represent a small reduction in service, net ridership is expected to increase in the coming year.

Following is an outline of proposed changes:

Route 685 – Brigham City/Ogden Express – Discontinue service. Route 685 has one weekday southbound trip that leaves Brigham City about 7 a.m. and one weekday northbound trip that leaves Weber State University near 5:10 p.m. The underutilized route services Brigham City, downtown Ogden, Weber State University and the Flying J office in Ogden.

Routes 626 and 627 – West Roy/Weber State University Davis Campus/Davis Applied Technology Center – discontinue Saturday service. Routes 626 and 627 run hourly on Saturdays from approximately 7:20 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. These routes connect 5600 South and 3500 West in Roy to the WSU Davis campus in Layton and the DATC in Kaysville. The changes will impact less than seven percent of riders on each of the routes.

Route 667 – Lagoon Shuttle – Discontinue Sunday service. The Lagoon Shuttle runs every 30 minutes on Sunday from approximately 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October. The route connects Lagoon to the Farmington FrontRunner Station. This is an under utilized route and the change will affect approximately one percent of current shuttle riders.

Route 455 – University of Utah/Davis County/Weber State University – Discontinue Saturday service. Route 455 Saturday service runs hourly from approximately 8:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. The route connects downtown Ogden and Weber State University Campus with downtown Salt Lake City and the University of Utah. The changes will affect less than two percent of route 455 riders.

Route 613 – Weber Industrial Park - Discontinue Saturday service. Route 613 Saturday service runs hourly from approximately 8:30 to 6 p.m. The route connects the Ogden Transit Center/FrontRunner Station to the Weber Industrial Park. The changes will impact less than four percent of route 613 ridership.

Route 816 – Sandy Civic TRAX to Provo East Bay - Discontinue Saturday night service due to low ridership. Route 816 connects the southern most TRAX stop with Utah County, continuing south to Provo’s East Bay.

Route 850 – Utah County State Street – Cancel 15 of the 43 trips with the lowest ridership.

The proposed changes would impact less than one half a percent of UTA riders.

Public hearings are being held in each county to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on the proposed changes. Meeting dates, times and locations are available on the UTA website.

Following the public hearings UTA will review the comments collected, make any necessary adjustments and finalize the schedule. Changes will be implemented in the system in April 2011.

For more information on Box Elder, Davis and Weber County changes, please contact Kent Jorgenson at kjorgenson@rideuta.com or (801) 510-1484 prior to January 18.

For more information on changes in Utah County, please contact Ken Anson at kanson@rideuta.com or (801) 227-8957 prior to January 27.

Take Route 33 or Stop at Millcreek Station for Little Dave’s Deli

Filed in Urban Ticket January 7th, 2011 @ 12:51 pm

One of the best lunch spots in the city, Little Dave’s Deli, is located at 41 West 3300 South near both a route 33 bus stop and the Millcreek TRAX station.

The deli serves a variety of sandwiches, including it’s well known Philly Steak. Items on the menu range in price from $6-12.

Sandwiches are not all the deli is known for…

This deli has nailed the look and feel of a 1930′s era shop and sports hundreds of bottles of vintage soda. The deli serves a variety of drinks – chances are if you’ve heard of it, they’ve got it!

With its prime location the deli fills up quickly during the lunch hour.

Looking for dinner? Order take out early. This establishment closes at 6 p.m. daily.

Care to Clear the Air–Ride UTA

Filed in Mom Aboard January 5th, 2011 @ 3:56 pm

Utah’s air quality can be terrible in the winter. We had 49 red air quality days last year and air quality is getting bad again this year. So what can you do to help clear the air?

Try registering at caretocleartheair.org and make some less-polluting travel plans this winter. Riding UTA buses, TRAX, FrontRunner, vanpools goes a long way to reduce air pollution. So does carpool or even telecommuting.

UTA wants to help answer questions as you make your travel plans. UTA with Care to Clear the Air are hosting Learn to Ride events throughout January and you’re invited:

Saturday, Jan. 8 from noon to 2 p.m. at Valley Fair Mall. UTA will have a ski-bus inside the mall.
Saturday, Jan. 15 from noon to 2 p.m. in Sugarhouse near Whole Foods. UTA will have a bus parked on Wilmington Ave. east of Highland Dr.
Saturday, Jan. 22 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Sandy Civic Center TRAX station (approx. 9800 South 115 East)
Saturday, Jan. 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Old Greektown TRAX station (near Gateway, 554 West 200 South). There will be a celebration event that day from 2 to 4 p.m. at Gallivan Plaza with free ice skating for the first 150 Care to Clear the Air participants.
Monday, Jan. 31 from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Salt Lake Central Station (330 South 600 West). Staff will be on hand to answer questions about riding FrontRunner, TRAX and bus.