I wrote a letter to the two people who represent me in the state Legislature, Sen. Lincoln Fillmore and Rep. Susan Pulsipher, to complain about what UTA has done to the South Jordan parking lot for FrontRunner.
One half of what was a very large and always full parking lot has been turned into a very small lot with an overflow lot across a very busy highway, and instead of being filled with commuters’ cars, it is filled with a hotel and private business. That went so well that now UTA is building two more large private buildings in the other half of the former parking lot. UTA tells me that this was justified because that little lot is not often full, nor is the auxiliary lot across that highway. They don’t get it — the lots are empty because there’s no convenient way to get to the train.
So, I asked those two legislators, as well as the legislators who sponsored SB136 that reorganizes UTA, how they let UTA get away with this diehl (referencing ex-UTA board member Terry Diehl), and who at UTA made the most money off this diehl.
The reply I received from Sen. Fillmore is telling. He says that the blame lies totally with South Jordan City, which issued the permits for the construction of the four buildings, and he recommended I complain to the city. The senator demonstrates how little he understands government and the rule of law: There was no way for the city to deny the requested permits, since all of the conditions for permits were met. The blame for this fiasco lies totally with UTA management and planning. The board of UTA, including people who made money off this diehl, should be held responsible, and the Legislature should complete the job it started — get rid of the swamp at UTA and put UTA under UDOT management.
Dave McNeill, South Jordan