State-Sponsored Amtrak in Utah (feat. Mike Christensen): Episode 7

Transit options in Utah are pretty great in the Salt Lake Valley (Provo to Ogden) thanks to our wonderful Utah Transit Authority, but what if one wants to travel elsewhere in the state? Mike Christensen, MCMP, CNU-A, AICP proposes Link Utah, a plan to run state-sponsored Amtrak (a mode of operation which we explain) up, down, and across the whole state. It's a cost-effective way to change the transportation game for Utah and fill in serious inter-transit-agency gaps, completing mobility for residents and tourists alike.

Links and stuffs

Mike Christensen's Link Utah report

Timestamps

00:00 Intro: special guest Mike Christensen
00:30 Theme song
01:01 The Utah Rail Passengers Association & Link Utah
02:04 State-sponsored Amtrak model
02:24 The 3am California Zephyr
03:19 Intercity bus options in Utah: Salt Lake Express, Greyhound, etc.
- 04:05 Lack of offboard infrastructure
- 05:20 State-sponsored Amtrak would include proper stations (heated shelters, restrooms, convenience stores)
05:49 Amtrak vs. FrontRunner to Logan & siloed transit districts
- 08:10 FrontRunner construction is difficult, but we should have it eventually
- 08:47 Technical challenges (a.k.a. mountains)
- 09:27 Shortcut on the Union Pacific route
11:10 Population, growth, and demand
- 11:55 Comparison to the Chicago, Illinois metro area
- 13:33 Ridership patterns & tourism
14:40 St. George lacks rail; there would initially be a bus connection
- 15:58 Modeshift, industry, and cost: delivering by freight train
16:53 Moab & Grand Junction, Colorado
17:39 Tourism, national parks, and whole-system integration: filling in statewide transportation gaps
20:10 Funding (why does UDOT get so much of the money for roads?)
20:44 Shiny high-speed rail doesn't make sense in Utah
24:07 How does state-sponsored Amtrak work? (proposal with capital, operations and maintenance costs)
- 25:19 Track, siding, & switch upgrades
- 26:00 Jointed rail to be replaced with continuous welded rail
- 26:35 Positive train control
- 27:07 79 MPH and beyond
28:09 Connecting bus service & Colorado (CDOT)
- 30:10 "Bustang" is the name of CDOT's intercity bus service; subsidized 100%
31:33 Restoring the Amtrak Pioneer for long-distance
- 33:38 State-sponsored, shorter routes in the Northwest
34:09 What can we do to make Link Utah a reality?
- 35:07 The nonprofit Utah Rail Passengers Association
- 35:32 Looking for larger (corporate?) sponsors
- 36:21 Working on an interim committee with the state legislature
- 37:03 Gotta have a plan to get infrastructure money
37:44 Thanks Mike!
38:28 Smash that like button!
38:44 Know anybody with deep pockets? Point them to the Utah RPA!

References & notes

Mike Christensen and his Link Utah report: "An Intrastate Passenger Rail System for Utah Operated by Amtrak Using Existing Union Pacific Tracks"