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Re: Relative Populations
Author: OldPoleBurner
Date: 07-18-2009 - 17:25
Wikipedia, quoting US Census Bureau estimates, has Salt Lake city at 181,698 as of 2008, with 531,000 in the region to the North, where the current UTA diesel operations are located. The northern terminus of Ogden (45 miles away), with a mere 81,600 is the largest city on the existing route, besides Salt Lake itself.
Still under construction, is a 45 mile line south to Provo (pop 117,000) The South Line will be more populated, and will pass through a total regional population of approximately 1.3 million on its way to Provo. But the north line is already successful on its own.
Both lines are located within the r.o.w. of very heavy U.P. freight lines, using all new, completely independent trackage in the U.P. r.o.w. Both are mostly single track with frequent sidings, and a small amount of "2 main Tracks". All are equipped with what U.P. calls "ACS", configured for full PTS safety functionality. All grade crossings not eliminated are in full compliance with Federal Quiet Zone Regulations for both the UP and the UTA.
Approximately 1.8 million in the surrounding region to Salt Lake's population of 180,000 makes for a suburban ratio of 10 to 1. Compare that to the 7.2 million Bay Area residents surrounding San Francisco's 808,000, for a ratio of 9 to 1. It can be seen that Salt Lake City and San Francisco regions have similar urban-suburban dynamics, except that the Salt Lake region is but one forth the size.
Moreover, consider just the size of Salt Lake's northern region with just San Fransico's North Bay, as it is called. SMART will be serving a regional population 735,000 vs UTA's current 531,000. SMART's largest city in the region being Santa Rosa at 161,500; vs Ogden at 81,600. SMART's service area will be actually somewhat larger than UTA's current service area.
Given this perspective, there could be no rational excuse for a similar operation in the North Bay not succeeding just as well. Only Marin's elite political piety and self-centered obstinance could get in the way; but then, that would be far from surprising - and far from rational - wouldn't it!
ref: Wikipedia look up on various cities and counties.
OPB
Still under construction, is a 45 mile line south to Provo (pop 117,000) The South Line will be more populated, and will pass through a total regional population of approximately 1.3 million on its way to Provo. But the north line is already successful on its own.
Both lines are located within the r.o.w. of very heavy U.P. freight lines, using all new, completely independent trackage in the U.P. r.o.w. Both are mostly single track with frequent sidings, and a small amount of "2 main Tracks". All are equipped with what U.P. calls "ACS", configured for full PTS safety functionality. All grade crossings not eliminated are in full compliance with Federal Quiet Zone Regulations for both the UP and the UTA.
Approximately 1.8 million in the surrounding region to Salt Lake's population of 180,000 makes for a suburban ratio of 10 to 1. Compare that to the 7.2 million Bay Area residents surrounding San Francisco's 808,000, for a ratio of 9 to 1. It can be seen that Salt Lake City and San Francisco regions have similar urban-suburban dynamics, except that the Salt Lake region is but one forth the size.
Moreover, consider just the size of Salt Lake's northern region with just San Fransico's North Bay, as it is called. SMART will be serving a regional population 735,000 vs UTA's current 531,000. SMART's largest city in the region being Santa Rosa at 161,500; vs Ogden at 81,600. SMART's service area will be actually somewhat larger than UTA's current service area.
Given this perspective, there could be no rational excuse for a similar operation in the North Bay not succeeding just as well. Only Marin's elite political piety and self-centered obstinance could get in the way; but then, that would be far from surprising - and far from rational - wouldn't it!
ref: Wikipedia look up on various cities and counties.
OPB
