Transcript GOLDEN 12.20.12
Golden
December 20, 2012
50 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourgoldennews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 147, Issue 3
Program uncovers career-track views Effort can cut education costs by identifying students’ majors before starting college By Vic Vela Nathan Yujiri is an aspiring teacher, but not long ago the 23-year-old University of Colorado student described himself as desperate for career-path guidance. Before this summer, Yujiri, a junior, had changed majors from international studies to engineering. Then, he had another change of heart and felt stuck. “To me, it was hard to commit because once I make a decision, it narrows my possible future opportunities,” he said. “They tell you that you have a lot of time to decide. But, most students should have their majors lined up by the time they’re juniors.” So, Yujiri sought help from Youth Directions, a Jefferson County-based nonprofit that coaches young people through a process of self-discovery to help them find their lives’ calling. Yujiri – who is now on path to become a math teacher — was at first reluctant to join Youth Directions, thinking it might be akin to prior experiences with career-counseling services, which he said he found weren’t really personal. Youth Directions Executive Director Levi Brackman, who co-founded the program in
2009, said he hears stories like Yujiri’s all the time. “What schools should really be doing is helping kids find their purpose or calling,” Brackman said. “Instead, they’re helping them find a major or a career. Every time you change your major, that’s a huge amount of money down the drain.” Youth Directions, through several hours of coaching and in-depth exploration, helps students recognize their passions and purpose in life. Students also receive mentoring and can shadow professionals in their chosen field. Recently, students at Dakota Ridge High School took part in a Youth Directions-led passion-and-purpose-finding program. “They really got into it,” said Pam Cummings, a teacher at Dakota Ridge. “At first, it was really deep, the writing and self-analysis. But, once they got over that hill, they were just really excited.” The program costs money, but Brackman said Youth Directions works with a sliding fee scale. “We’ll never turn someone down for lack of financial abilities, if they’re motivated,” he said. “If you’re in my business, you’re looking to help kids find their passion and
Levi Brackman, executive director for Youth Directions in Golden, visits with students during a classroom exercise Dec. 5 at Dakota Ridge High School. Photo by Andy Carpenean purpose. That’s striking gold for us.” For more information about Youth Directions, and for details about enrollment
in an upcoming five-day winter-break coaching program that begins next month, go online to youthdirections.org.
I-70 transit ideas rolled out Various technology concepts seek to stem freeway congestion By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews. com State of the art transportation west of Denver used to mean saddling up a horse. But at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Dec. 13,
the public was given a look at what the future of travel up the I-70 corridor might look like. The public tech expo was hosted by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) as part of the $1.8 million Advanced Guideway System (AGS) feasibility study. The study has three phases, according to CDOT Special Projects Manager David Krutsinger. The first step is to gather proposals from around the world about what type of rail/guideway system
might work in the Rockies. Second, CDOT will analyze what type of alignment those technical options require. Questions to be answered, Krutsinger said, include whether they could follow the freeway, and how much land would be needed for the tracks, and stations. Phase three will look at how to pay for the estimated $15 billion cost. “Today’s forum is the culmination of our exploration of the first one,” Krutsinger said. A total of 18 firms proposed their versions of a rail technology that could stretch from Denver International Airport to the Vail Airport, and carry people faster and more efficiently than another lane of asphalt. The 40-member study commission compared the proposals using several key criteria, including safety, proven technology, capability even in wind and weather, and the ability to be operational as early as 2017. Those criteria narrowed the field to proposals from 10 firms, and eight of those attended the expo. Krutsinger said the public expo
helped CDOT keep the public informed about the progress of the study and gather input from regional stakeholders. He said it was also just to share “the wow factor of seeing what these technologies are capable of.” CDOT anticipates any new tram system becoming at least partially operational by 2025. Among the expo attendees were some study commission members, along with city representatives for mountain communities, including Idaho Springs and Empire. • American Maglev Transit of Powder Springs, Ga.: Magnetic levitation and linear induction of large passenger cars of approximately 200 passengers along with their luggage. • Flight Rail of Ukiah, Calif.: A passenger tram along an elevated guideway, powered by vacuum air pressure built up in the pneumatic tube that the tram will ride above. • General Atomics of San Diego and Colorado Maglev Group: Large guiderail tram proposal, designed in collaboration with the Federal Transit Administration.
Above is a tram by Talgo, one of the presenters at the Dec. 13 tech expo. Photo Provided POSTAL ADDRESS
Above is a concept image of a American Maglev tram. Photo Provided
This system could carry standard truck containers. • MegaRail of Fort Worth, Texas: A system that looks a bit like a raised motorway. Electrically powered, rubber-tire vehicles move freight and large passenger cars, while other users could drive their own vehicles onto flatbed cars for transit. • PPRTC of Colorado Springs: A Personal Rapid Transit approach, with pod-cars that seat up to six, on a fixed guideway. Each pod car is elevated on a cushion of compressed air and propelled forward magnetically. Pods act as taxis, going directly to the desired stop. Each pod is fed power, generated through hydrogen fuel cells, at station stops. • SkyTran of Longmont: Also a point-to-point service, using small three-seat pods to move passengers directly to their destinations. The pods hang below the guideway, and the system uses a magnetic, linear motor system for motion. • Swift Tram of Boulder: Another hanging train design, it uses adjustable passenger compartments to move up to 38 passengers. • Talgo of Seattle, Wash.: Possibly the most traditional proposal, Talgo trams would use energy from the power grid, traction motors and conventional adhesion. Regenerative braking, like that used on hybrid vehicles, would be used to minimize energy needs.
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