FrontRunner On Track For Provo

Provo City » 351 W. Center St. » 801-852-6000 » www.provo.org NOVEMBER 2012

a message fromMayor John R. Curtis

City Calendar Inside:

see page 3

Celebrate with WinterFest

parks.provo.org

➤ When approaching a rail crossing, stop as soon as the lights start to flash EVEN if the gates are still coming down.

➤ Never drive around lowered gates or try to beat the train.

➤ Pedestrians need to look both ways when crossing rail tracks, take off headphones, stop texting or calling, and pay attention.

➤ Bikers and skateboarders should walk across the tracks.

➤ Always clear the intersection immediately if you are inside a crossing when the lights start to flash.

➤ Keep a firm hold on children as they board or wait for a train.

➤ No one should walk on or play on the tracks or throw anything at a train.

FrontRunner Safety Tips

It’s an early Christmas gift to the Provo area, something taxpayers ordered in 2006 when they voted to fund commuter rail.

Now, six years later, the new sleek, high-speed, FrontRunner Provo to Salt Lake City will officially start service in Provo on Dec. 10, ultimately connecting Provo residents to a network of more than 140 miles of pas-senger rail from Utah County to Weber County.

Nearly 7,000 riders are expected on the average weekday at first. (By 2030, UTA expects more than 10,000 riders will board the train on a daily basis.)

Ground was broken on the FrontRunner Provo in August

2008 and it was originally ex-pected to open in late 2014 to 2015.

But it’s finished ahead of sched-ule (and under budget). That’s good news for commuters who can ride comfortably to work no matter the weather — reading, catching up on emails, finishing homework, or getting a headstart on the workday using the on-board WiFi.

It will take cars off the road, improve air quality, and address growing transportation needs

of the Wasatch Front. Riders can get to Salt Lake City in less than an hour, to Ogden is less than two hours.

It will also require some chang-es in thinking on the part of drivers. We’ll all have to be more watchful at FrontRunner Provo crossings. For that rea-son, please be sure to read the safety tips below.

Football fans, commuters, and all of us should be excited for this progress. For more information call 1-888-800-8854 or visit

rideuta.com.

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winterfest

Saturday, December 1Downtown Holiday Market10 a.m. – 7 p.m.320 W. Center St.Get your holiday gifts in one place!801-712-1553

downtownprovo.org Santa Run 5K4:30 p.m.Provo City Center, 351 W. Center St.Grab your hat and beard and run for it!801-335-4940

www.runsanta.com

lights-On Ceremony6:30 p.m.Provo City Center, 351 W. Center St.Watch Santa light up the town

parks.provo.org

Friday, December 7

Downtown Art Stroll6 – 9 p.m.Along University Ave. and Center St.Galleries will be open late with special displays and treats.801-712-1553

downtownprovo.org

Monday, December 3

Carollama night6:30 p.m.Meet at Centennial Middle School, 305 E. 2320 NorthCarol with Llamas and collect food for the hungry.818-689-1245

carollamautah@gmail.com Monday, December 31

noon years eve11 a.m. – 1 p.m.The Shops at Riverwoods, 4801 N. University Ave.Count down to noon with Radio Disney.Enjoy dancing, face-painting, balloon artists, and more!801-802-8430

new years Countdown!6:30 p.m. – MidnightProvo Towne Centre Mall, 1200 Towne Centre Blvd.Celebrate indoors until the fireworks at midnight.

countdownprovo.org

every night Through December

light ShowProvo City Center, 351 W. Center St.Watch Christmas lights dance to the music on 99.9 FM.

In Provo

For more information, including November events, visit

parks.provo.org.

2012 winterFest Schedule of events

FRee Free Event $ Requires a Fee or AdmissionFor sports and class registra-tions, visit parks.provo.org

city calendar, december 2012

Sat 1

➤ Downtown Holiday Market Downtown Provo, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. downtownprovo.org $

➤ Santa Run Downtown Provo, 4:30 p.m. 801-335-4940 $

➤ Parade of Lights Downtown Provo, 5:30 p.m. 801-852-7635 FRee

➤ Lights-On Ceremony Downtown Provo, 6:30 p.m. 801-852-7635 FRee

➤ Utah Lyric Opera: “Amahl & the Night Visitors” and “Messiah: Sing-Along” Covey Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m. 801-852-7007 $

Mon 3

➤ Utah Valley Handbell Ringers Provo Library, 7 p.m. 801-852-7685 $

➤ “Big Bad Voodoo Daddy: Christmas Concert” Covey Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m. 801-852-7007 $

Tue 4

➤ Council Meeting Municipal Council Chambers, 7 p.m. 801-852-6120

Thu 6

➤ Project Heal Christmas: “We Rejoice in Thee” Covey Center for the Arts, 7 p.m. 801-852-7007 $

Thu 6 - 22

➤ Joyful Noise Covey Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m. 801-852-7007 $

Fri 7

➤ Downtown Art Stroll Covey Center for the Arts, 6-9 p.m. 801-852-7007 FRee

➤ Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband Christmas Concert Covey Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m. 801-852-7007 $

Sat 8

➤ The Thrillionaires: Christmas Comedy Covey Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m. 801-852-7007 $

wed 12

➤ Planning Commission Municipal Council Chambers, 5 p.m. 801-852-6400

➤ Drop N Shop - Kids Night Out at the Pool Recreation Center, 6 p.m. 801-852-6610 $

Sat 15 - 22

➤ Utah Regional Ballet: Nutcracker Covey Center for the Arts 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. matinees 801-852-7007 $

Tue 18

➤ Drop N Shop - Kids Night Out at the Pool Recreation Center, 6 p.m. 801-852-6610 $

Thu 20

➤ Board of Adjustment Municipal Council Chambers, 6 p.m. 801-852-6400

Mon 24

➤ Christmas Eve-City offices closed Garbage pickup on regular schedule 801-852-6000

Tue 25

➤ Christmas Day-City offices closed Garbage pickup delayed one day 801-852-6000

Mon 31

➤ New Year’s Countdown Provo Towne Centre, 6:30 p.m. 801-852-7635 $

Cindy Gagon has endeared herself to the library administration over the past five years by being willing to work hard and extra hours as needed, always with a smile. “She is literally Little Miss Sunshine,” said Provo City Librarian Gene Nelson. “She al-ways smiles and says hello to everyone.” In addition, Gagon is willing to do the goofy things that come with the job, Nelson said. “She’s been our candy lady, dresses up and sells candy from her little cart.” Gagon is well organized and has set up a filing system that’s so accessible that “even I can find things,” Nelson added. “She’s just a wonderfully pleasant, helpful person.”

The most common cause of sewer backups is grease buildup. Don’t let foods such as gravies, frostings, and dressings ruin the season. Help keep pipes clear by disposing of fats and oils in the trash and not the drain.

For more information call Clifton Swain at 801-852-6793.

employee of the month fight sewer backups

buying power

where does Provo City get its power?

Many think it comes from the power plant at 200 West 800 North. Afterall, its exhaust stacks say “Provo City Power.” But that facility, built in 1940, is now only used as a backup power source during periods of peak demand.

Instead, our city buys power from a variety of sources through a joint action agen-cy called the Utah Municipal Power Agency, or UMPA. Provo and five other cities formed UMPA in 1980 to in-crease their buying strength in the energy world. As a re-sult, the member cities have benefited from favorable rates for many years.

The five other member cities include Levan, Manti, Nephi, Salem, and Spanish Fork. The six mayors of each city make up the agency board of directors and each mayor appoints a staff member to help with technical decisions.

Working with each other, the cities in UMPA not only save money for their “owners”—the public—but also avoid du-plicated effort as they oversee protecting and enhancing the power supply, financing, research, energy load need and forecasting, engineering, legal aid, and federal legisla-tion and regulation.

UMPA is dedicated to developing a reliable, economical power supply and to involving each member city in the planning, operating, and development decisions along the way.

Since 70% of the Provo Power budget goes toward the purchase of power, UMPA has played a key role in keeping rates low in Provo.

$

Provo Power Plant Glen Canyon Dam

UMPA buys power for its member cities from a variety of sources.

About 69% comes from coal-fired plants, such as the Hunter Power Plant in Castledale, Utah.

About 30% comes from hydroelectric sources, such as Glen Canyon Dam in southern Utah.

The Provo Power Plant, which is now part of the UMPA system, uses natural gas, and supplies about 1% of our power.

Hunter Power Plant