A woman reports that she recently boarded one of the used cars, which she lovingly dubs "The Ghetto TRAX" and watched one of the train's electric connectors bouncing on the road after it had fallen off the top. The train was delayed while repairs were made. This week, she noticed the seat next to her was unusually dark. It turns out it was soaking wet from a roof leak after a rainstorm.
The gentleman who would love to just be on the train was on the 900 East stop of the University line Tuesday when he couldn't get the doors to open. He repeatedly pushed the buttons, to no avail. A few minutes later, those trying to get on the train going the opposite direction had the same problem.
UTA spokesman Justin Jones says the San Jose trains were purchased for $180,000 apiece, a fraction of the $2.5 million for the new trains. But he admits the used trains need more refurbishing.
UTA sent a supervisor to the 900 East station after the door malfunction was reported. Jones said the hapless gentleman from the previous day pushed the buttons again and they wouldn't open. But the supervisor was able to open the doors by pushing harder. Jones said making the buttons easier to push will be part of the refurbishing program.
Setting an example: On April 11 at 3:15 p.m., UTA bus No. 27 was southbound on 700 East when, for no apparent reason, it ran a red light at 1300 South.
Still a problem: In my April 14 parking-problem column, I mentioned that the Salt Lake Planning and Zoning Commission passed a rule allowing people with handicapped stickers to park for free for two hours at a metered stall.
Actually, the commission had only received an update on the already-existing policy from Scott Vaterlaus, the city's traffic engineer. But the problem is still the same. Most people with the stickers are unaware of the program and there usually are not any open parking meters for them to take advantage of anyway.
Highs and lows: The Salt Lake City eighth-grade all-star basketball team coached by former Bingham High coach George Sluga and his son Brandon won the Las Vegas Easter Classic recently against teams from all over the country.
But Sluga was too busy to celebrate. He returned to his hotel room to find it flooded with sewage. He had to throw his clothes away and shop all night for new threads and toiletries, giving a new meaning to the phrase "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas."
Water conservation: During the snowstorm last Monday, neighbors noticed the sprinklers at the Salt Lake City-owned Sunnyside Park running at full force, dutifully watering the glistening, powdery snow.
