Update on Tour Buses

Thank you to everyone who took an interest  and concern about these tour buses. Many people called and it looks like at this moment these bus drivers are getting stopped and told about the changes being made. They are not to use out neighborhood as their obstacle course to train their driver. There was one concern that I wasn't aware of, is that our streets weren't made to withstand the weight of these tour buses driving constantly as they have been doing. They WILL still be using the neighborhood to get to and from Seven Peaks, but they were told to follow the detour sign. Read the email below.


They can barely make the turns, almost hit those mailboxes

Email from Emily:

I just got off the phone with Gary Brinton and this is the situation with the buses...

--Gary talked with the owner of the bus company and they have agreed to stop using our neighborhood roads as training for the drivers.  The owner (who is not in Utah) has sent out an email to all the instructors to only use the detour and to get out of the neighborhood as soon as possible.

--In addition, Gary has been stopping any and all buses that he sees today and telling each instructor verbally that this neighborhood is NOT an appropriate place for them to train their drivers.  He says that if we should see any, to do the same.  Tell the instructor that they should have received an email from Jason to get out of this neighborhood ASAP.

--The bus company will actually be leaving end of April.  This company only trains from January to April so we should not see anymore buses after April.

--Gary is also talking with his contact in the mayor's office, Dixon Holmes, about re-engineering the detour so that it doesn't have to come through our neighborhood at all.  He's asking for an exit at 300 N so that people coming and going in and out of Seven Peaks will have a way out without entering our neighborhood.  He doesn't know when the construction will end, but he will contact me as soon as he knows more.

--Gary is working hard on this issue and asks that we don't take anything to the city or police until he has worked with the mayor's office in resolving this issue.

When Gary calls back, I will let you know what the update is.

Thanks!
Emily

I assume that is Mr. Brinton. He stopped that bus, stepped inside, then got back into his car.

Tour Buses

This an email is written by our neighbor RonNell. She makes a good point and I think we all need to do our part. Please read what she has to say:

Hi, neighbor --

I'm hoping you'll be willing to join me in an effort to stop the dangerous (and annoying) onslaught of tour buses driving up and down the streets of our neighborhood.

By way of background, I and some other women on my street had some conversations last week in which we shared concerns about the buses that are driving on our residential streets with increasing frequency, so we decided to do some investigating to see what we could do to put a stop to it.  We think that if every family who is bothered by the practice sends just one polite email or makes one polite phone call,  it may well do the trick, and we have gathered the necessary information so that everyone can pitch in to help.

Here is what we know.  Seven Peaks is renting out its parking lot in the off-season to a company that trains people to drive very large, commercial-sized tour buses.  The trainees are almost exclusively college-aged kids who are training to go to Alaska to drive tour buses in the summer months.  Although they have been doing this training in that lot for several years, the traffic through our neighborhood is exponentially greater than it has been in past years.  Presumably this is in part because the roundabout on 300 North is closed for construction and our neighborhood is the only exit available.  However, one trainer that I flagged down and spoke with today said that the trainers also think the neighborhood gives the trainees good experience with roads that have no cars parked at the curbs, which suggests they might make it a more permanent practice in future years if we do not loudly express our disagreement with it now.

Listed below are the contact people who could receive your calls/emails, along with some potential talking points to help make our case as strongly and respectfully as possible:

Jason Guiler of HOLLAND AMERICA is the director of the bus training program. His telephone number is 907-723-2030.  His email address is jguiler@hollandamerica-princess.com.  He is not located in Provo permanently but visits regularly to oversee the training here, and is expected to be here later this week, if some of us wanted to ask to meet with him personally.

Gary R. Brinton is the owner of SEVEN PEAKS who rents the lot to the bus training company.  His cell phone is 801-367-7205, and in correspondence with the neighborhood last year, he specifically asked that neighbors who have issues with practices at Seven Peaks contact him directly about those concerns, rather than going to city officials.

Some talking points that could be mentioned in your calls or emails (in addition to your own observations):

* We have no problem with the use of the parking lot for training, but it is inappropriate for residential streets to be used for this purpose.  The area is not zoned for commercial vehicles, no city buses ever travel through it, and these heavy-duty buses are the equivalent of semitrucks coming through the neighborhood many times daily.

* There is a very serious safety concern here.  Dozens and dozens of children reside in the Foothills Estates neighborhood, and with the arrival of spring, many ride bicycles and play on the sidewalks and in the streets.  Many families have very young children and toddlers and have serious concerns of a child darting into the street and a bus driver being unable to see the child or lacking the wherewithal to stop. 

* This concern is compounded by the fact that the buses are being driven by brand-new drivers, most of whom are very young and some of whom are experiencing their very first outing on the road.  You can tell by watching them that they don't yet know how to operate all of the features of these massive vehicles, and this greatly heightens the danger to our children.

*  The buses are causing other major disruptions to our neighborhood life.  They are noisier than other traffic.  They drive past our homes in the early morning hours and continue well into the late afternoon.  Last week, one of these buses ran over a garbage can of my neighbor's, and on another morning, one of the buses broke down in front of another neighbor's house and the street became the scene of a large-scale mechanical effort.  I have seen them drive over curbs and poorly navigate turns on a number of occasions.  None of this is conducive to the kind of residential neighborhood we are entitled to have. 

*If the practice continues, I and other concerned neighbors will go to Provo City to discuss the matter.

I'm going to send my email tonight and make calls tomorrow, but one email or phone call will almost certainly not be sufficient.  If this is a concern to you, please take the time to contact the individuals listed above to voice your disapproval.  If there are others in the neighborhood who I have not included in this email (I am sending only to people I know personally), please feel free to pass it along. 

Thanks for taking a few minutes send an email or make a call to help us keep the neighborhood safe for our kids.

RonNell

For Sale

Neighbors' home is on the market

343 N 1340 E

Click here for more information

If you are trying to sell or rent your home and you'd like us to post it on the blog, please email me. I'd be more than happy.

Seven Peaks 2011 Passes

A reminder about our "neighborhood special" for Seven Peaks Water Park this Year. Our neighbor Stephanie A was thoughtful enough to get this information and pass out the letter to our doors last fall. I personally     forgot what it said and thought this might be helpful in case you haven't decided on an option yet.
Thank you Stephanie!

September 6, 2010          

Dear Foothill Park Neighbors,

                Gary Brinton, the owner of Seven Peaks Waterpark, offered every household who was willing to sign a good neighbor agreement two free season passes to the waterpark for the 2010 season.  The good neighbor agreement basically stated that you would contact the waterpark and/or Gary Brinton (it included his cell number) to resolve any concerns before contacting the police.

                This morning, I spoke with Gary about his plans for the 2011 season.  He told me that he would again offer two free season passes to the waterpark contingent on signing the good neighbor agreement.  These passes will be available after May 1, 2011.  I also asked him about the current “Pass of All Passes” promotion (Seven Peaks season pass, year round access to both Trafalga locations, Utah Flash games, Utah Owlz games). Because the “Pass of All Passes” involves other businesses, he is not in a position to give them for free, but he will give Foothill Park residents $20 off a “Pass of All Passes” (two per household).  Again, this is contingent on signing a good neighbor agreement.

                So, bottom line is that for next season we will have a choice – free season pass to Seven Peaks or $20 off the “Pass of All Passes” promotion.  The price on the Pass of All Passes has been going up, which is why I wanted to get this information to you quickly.  Because I just spoke with Gary this morning, I know that the Seven Peaks management staff is aware of the $20 off, but if you go in there, it is possible that you might find an office staff member who has not heard about it yet.  If this happens, just ask for a manager!  Also, don’t forget to bring in a utility bill or something that shows you live in Foothill Park.

                If you have any questions or need additional information, please call me at (801) 341-0353.

Thanks,

Steph

For Sale

Neighbors' home is on the market

1358 E 580 N

Click here more information

If you are trying to sell or rent your home and you'd like us to post it on the blog, please email me. I'd be more than happy.

Safety and Secruity

We have had several burglaries in the neighborhood over the past few weeks. Most have happened when garages were left open during the night, or vehicles left unlocked, even gas was siphoned twice from the same vehicle!

We all need to safeguard our homes and property even if you think we live in a safe neighborhood - predators like to hunt where the prey least expect them. Keep your property lit up, use your outdoor lights to let others know you're home. Also report any street lights that are out to the city. Keep an eye out for suspicious activity, like people snooping around or sitting parked in their cars.

On that note, the HOA board members are searching for volunteers for block captains in preparation to create a neighborhood watch program. Please email this blog or a board member posted on the side bar if you are interested, or want to suggest a friend.

Get to know your neighbors if you haven't already. The way the LDS Ward boundaries are set-up can make us feel removed from each other. Let us connect with each each other, regardless of our religion, ward, marital status, age, or race, or even if we are renters. We live in a great neighborhood and we are all wonderful people.