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SALT LAKE CITY -- Some residents on the west side of Salt Lake City say the new TRAX line being built to the airport is the largest project in their community ever.
The new North Temple TRAX line will connect the east and west sides of the city, and students at the University of Utah's Department of City and Metropolitan Planning think it's a chance for some of those old stereotypes to be torn down.
I think there are definitely some stereotypes we're helping to break through with this project, and really tearing down these walls that exist around the idea of what the west side is.
–June Hiatt, UofU student
"It's almost... They're different worlds," says June Hiatt, a student at the University of Utah.
Hiatt grew up in Glendale, on the west side of Salt Lake City. So, when she had an opportunity to take part in a west-side project for her class at the University of Utah, she knew she could help.
"I think there are definitely some stereotypes we're helping to break through with this project, and really tearing down these walls that exist around the idea of what the west side is," Hiatt says.
The project is the North Temple TRAX line. Hiatt's class project with the Department of City and Metropolitan Planning is to talk to west side residents about the TRAX line -- especially younger residents, and what they think TRAX means to their neighborhoods.
"How can young people play a bigger role in decision making and on community councils?" explains Caitllin Cahill, assistant professor with the Department of City and Metropolitan planning.
The class interviewed hundreds of people on the west side, including the McDaniels who feel the TRAX line can only help their neighborhood.
"I'm excited. I think it's really neat to have transportation that people can use, and it'll be really accessible to me and my family," Sheri McDaniel says.
"It was nice to have people come around and ask our opinion," says Matthew McDaniel.
After getting all those opinions, the students went to a Salt Lake City Council meeting Tuesday to present their findings to council members.
"For the students to take time to investigate some things in our community and propose some solutions, I think it adds to the dialog of how we get there," says Councilman Carlton Christensen.
That's exactly what Hiatt was hoping for.
"We want to make sure the youth voices and community voices are heard throughout the project," she says.
Council members say they'll definitely look at some of the policy proposals the students brought up.
E-mail: acabrero@ksl.com
