After passage of a ballot initiative to raise the local sales tax, the funding was used to significantly expand bus service and begin development of the north-south light rail line.įrom the very beginning, the proposal to build light rail transit stoked controversy among some local civic leaders and a subsequent ballot measure failed to garner voter support, prompting Pingree to look for another way to get the project built and operational, which eventually happened, Barnes said. The conclusions of the joint study included expanding I-15, which was done by adding two lanes in each direction and to build the light rail system in the corridor to begin meeting future demand.
“It was pretty fortunate that there was a railroad alignment that paralleled the freeway right there … that UP - Union Pacific (Railroad) - was willing to sell,” he said.
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“He truly professionalized UTA and brought it up to be a modern transit agency,” Barnes said.įor his work, Pingree was recognized with multiple awards from the American Public Transit Association as the outstanding midsized transit system in North America, he noted.īarnes said the idea for a light rail train system in Salt Lake City was born out of a corridor study that was commissioned jointly by UTA and the Utah Department of Transportation on how to mitigate the transit demands along the central I-15 corridor. I think the buses spent as much time broken down as they did operating (on the road).” It was just a new fledgling organization. Their offices were on Fourth South and they would literally maintain buses under the Fourth South viaduct,” explained Bill Barnes, who served in government and media relations for UTA for nine years of Pingree’s tenure. He was 80 years old.ĭuring his time as head of the state’s largest transit agency, Pingree was instrumental in leading the organization into what would become its greatest growth. Pingree, who served as general manager of the Utah Transit Authority for two decades, died this week of cancer. But he will be remembered as the man responsible for creating one of the best midsize public transportation systems in the country. To donate, click here.SALT LAKE CITY - For some in the Salt Lake community, John Pingree was a source of angst and frustration.
The family created a Go Fund Me to help cover funeral expenses. “To have that light snuffed out at such a young age… No kid should die that young of an age to a preventable accident,” she said. He was a bright teen with a quiet personality. Presnell said LP loved shooting guns, being with family, and playing video games. They’re pushing for gates to be installed on all sides and that trains should slow down in residential areas, especially near schools. Investigators initially told FOX 13 News that LP lifted up the gate to enter the crossing, but witnesses told the family he actually crossed the street and entered on the side where there is no gate.
“Because this is a living nightmare for them.” “They just keep wanting to wake up from a nightmare,” she said. Since Monday morning’s tragedy, neighbors, families and friends put together a memorial at the corner of the Sandy Historic District railroad crossing.īrandy Presnell, LP’s aunt, said the family is still processing the news. The Utah Transit Authority said LP waited for a first train to pass, entered the crossing, and was then struck by a second train coming from the opposite way. He was riding his bike to school when he was hit. His family has identified him as 14-year-old sophomore LP Lawrence. SANDY, Utah - The family of a Jordan High School student hit and killed by a UTA Trax train Monday morning is pushing for change
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