UTA Web Site
July 4, 1999
Salt Lake's light rail project is now on track to be finished a year ahead of schedule--maybe even by Christmas.
Now the Utah Transit Authority is launching a campaign to get people to think seriously about making light rail part of their lifestyle. News Specialist Pamela Davis reports.
Just last week, UTA approved an accelerated schedule for the completion of the light rail system.
Coralie Alder/UTA Community Relations: "PEOPLE -- THEY'RE STARTING TO SEE THE TRAIN OUT THERE NOW, AND THEY'RE GETTING REALLY EXCITED."
Now...the transit authority is pressing the gas pedal on a public relations effort to get Utahns to consider commuting via TRAX.
Commercial: "ONE MAN PER HORSE WASTES OATS. LET US LEAVE OUR HORSES AT A CENTRAL LOCATION AND THEN TRANSFER TO A LARGE CARRIAGE!"
New ads hitting the airwaves feature old-fashioned characters.
Coralie Alder/UTA Community Relations: "IT'S BACK IN THE OLDEN DAYS, BACK IN THOMAS JEFFERSON DAYS WHEN PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY'LL NEVER LEAVE THEIR HORSES, WE'LL ALWAYS WANT TO RIDE OUR HORSES, AND WE HEAR THAT TODAY: 'NO ONE WILL EVER LEAVE THEIR CARS.'"
The ads' tongue-in-cheek message implies that modern folks will flock to light rail for its convenience and efficiency.
Commercial: "BUSSES AND TRAINS. SAME VISION, BETTER TIMING."
UTA is also launching a public safety campaign -- with a newly completed safety video that will soon be sent to all elementary and middle schools in the six-county service area.
"WHEN TRAX COMES, STAND BEHIND THE SAFETY LINE. FOR SAFETY."
Coralie Alder/UTA Community Relations: "WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THESE SAFETY VIDEOS UP WITH ACTUAL PRESENTATIONS IN THE SCHOOL. WE ALSO ARE DEVELOPING A MOTORIST-PEDESTRIAN HANDBOOK THAT WE WILL BE GIVING OUT TO EVERYBODY."
Coralie Alder/UTA Community Relations: "...TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT SCENARIOS. WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU NEED TO MERGE WITH THE TRAINS OR HOW DO YOU MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN IN THE DOWNTOWN CITY STREETS?"
Much of that kind of information is available on the UTA website.
