A New Spin on an Old Topic
I have not had much opportunity to sit down and write a post, so I will take a quick moment here to defer to a letter I read in yesterday's Opinion page of the Standard-Examiner. I have never met John Armstong, but his opinion is a very rational point to pave the way for future traffic into a revitalized downtown.
His opinion is as follows:
Connecting Ogden, WSU and Snowbasin
Monday, October 10, 2005
Ogden's future prospects are an exciting topic for the editorial page. It's clear from the viewpoints expressed that everyone wants Ogden to be a dynamic, exciting place to live.
Ogden has exceptional potential, and yet, we have so much conflict over details!
Specific plans aside, there seems to be two goals: 1) Connect Weber State and downtown with rapid, effective transportation; and 2) enhance the connection between Ogden and Snowbasin.
While we wait for more information on gondola vs. trolley and figure out what properties are being developed, we can start a program today to meet these goals.
First, we should schedule a bus with two stops -- downtown and Weber State -- dramatically reducing the 20-minute, one-way trip of bus route 603. Call it the "Wildcat Express," and market it specifically for students to go downtown for lunch and for WSU arts/sports enthusiasts to have dinner downtown.
Second, this winter, the city should operate a ski bus to Snowbasin specifically designed to get riders efficiently from downtown Ogden to the resort. Utah Transit Authority in Salt Lake City already operates a similar ski bus.
If these two programs are successful, we can start drawing business downtown and connect Ogden and Snowbasin. A successful track record would also enhance the ability to fund further expansion (like a gondola) with private funds. If these aren't successful, they come at minimal cost, can be discontinued and would give us a chance to think twice about more-expensive options.
John Armstrong
Ogden
Thoughts?
His opinion is as follows:
Connecting Ogden, WSU and Snowbasin
Monday, October 10, 2005
Ogden's future prospects are an exciting topic for the editorial page. It's clear from the viewpoints expressed that everyone wants Ogden to be a dynamic, exciting place to live.
Ogden has exceptional potential, and yet, we have so much conflict over details!
Specific plans aside, there seems to be two goals: 1) Connect Weber State and downtown with rapid, effective transportation; and 2) enhance the connection between Ogden and Snowbasin.
While we wait for more information on gondola vs. trolley and figure out what properties are being developed, we can start a program today to meet these goals.
First, we should schedule a bus with two stops -- downtown and Weber State -- dramatically reducing the 20-minute, one-way trip of bus route 603. Call it the "Wildcat Express," and market it specifically for students to go downtown for lunch and for WSU arts/sports enthusiasts to have dinner downtown.
Second, this winter, the city should operate a ski bus to Snowbasin specifically designed to get riders efficiently from downtown Ogden to the resort. Utah Transit Authority in Salt Lake City already operates a similar ski bus.
If these two programs are successful, we can start drawing business downtown and connect Ogden and Snowbasin. A successful track record would also enhance the ability to fund further expansion (like a gondola) with private funds. If these aren't successful, they come at minimal cost, can be discontinued and would give us a chance to think twice about more-expensive options.
John Armstrong
Ogden
Thoughts?
posted by Lancer at 9:39 AM
1 Comments:
Bernie, I agree with you. I should probably have clarified a bit more how I felt that Armstrong's comments were commendable. (You did most of that clarification for me).
I would like to add, however, that I applaud Mr. Armstrong for his thoughts on ways to get the skids greased for the gondola. I agree that it would be nice to have some of these direct routes underway now so that we can "get used" to them. One problem with instituting that plan right now is... there's not much draw downtown right now to make people WANT to use that transit system as is.
As for the Jazz Games idea... I wish they were doing that as well.
Thanks for the comments.
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