Salt Lake City and Mayor DeeDee Corridinni has set policy to build a new
transportation center in Salt Lake City. Although InterRail does support a
transportation center, the location chosen by the city will not benefit the
operations of the transportation center. The new Intermodal station will go in
an area that is currently a minor yard for the Union Pacific railroad, and is a
hazardous waste site. Although the area is schedule for redevelopment, it could
be many years before this happens. In the meantime, the new Intermodal station
is in a bad location with no easy access to anything.
We at InterRail feel that the former Union Pacific station would make a
more logical choice for a new transportation center. There are several benefits
to the Union Pacific location over the proposed location and the present Amtrak
station in the former Rio Grande Station.
The Union Pacific station has a direct connection to the new
north-south light rail line and the proposed East-West light rail line.
The Union Pacific station is centrally located only three blocks from
2 hotels, across the street from the Delta Center, two blocks from the
convention center, three blocks from the main shopping areas, and four blocks
to the biggest attraction in Utah: Temple Square.
The Union Pacific station is a better station for the proposed
commuter train line as it is located closer to the employment center of Salt
Lake City.
The present Rio Grande station, although located next to a museum, is
also within a block of three homeless shelters and soup kitchens.
By using the Union Pacific station, the city would not have to pay
for a feeder connection for the light rail line.
To remodel the Union Pacific station would be less expensive than
building a new station that would require new street access, new sewers, and
other upgrades to the infrastructure improvements.
There is plenty of land at the Union Pacific station for bus parking,
automobile parking, room for the new commuter trains, and the expansion of
Amtrak.
Not only is there plenty of room for Amtrak and Greyhound, there is
plenty of room within the UP building for restaurants, stores, transit
information, and offices.
The area east of the Union Pacific station already has seen
substantial redevelopment, and makes a more ideal location around which to base
future development.
The Intermodal station will be, for many, their first impression of Salt
Lake City. The former Union Pacific station, turned into a multi-modal station
with many services, will give visitors a wonderful first impression of Salt
Lake City, and provide a beautiful gateway of which the entire city could be
proud.
