Updated Davis Weber East-West Transportation Study results

On June 11 and 12, UDOT and their partners released to the public the study results for the Davis Weber East-West Transportation Study. Don't be fooled by the "East-West" part of the name, however; this study encompasses all the projects that are currently planned in the area as well as those that they hope to get approval for from now to 2040.

The maps and other information can be found through the following links:
Davis Weber East-West Transportation Study main page
Study Public Process
June Open House Displays (description of the study status and process)
Changes to the previously presented packages (changes made through public comment)
The package they'll present to the legislature (preferred package - MAP)
Project phasing (which roads they'll build when - MAP) *NOTE* Red is 2008-2013, Blue is 2014-2023, Green is 2023-2040
Project phasing (list instead of map)

For those of you who are interested in the status of the North Legacy study (which they're now calling Legacy Parkway): I was told that the alignment has not been finalized, and that the study team will be reconvening as early as this month (but it will likely be later this summer or early fall) to pick up where they left off. As I hear more, I will let you know. For Plain City residents, the widening of 2700 North (to a four-lane road) and extension of it through Paul Costley's Garage down to the Legacy Parkway will have a big impact in that area.

If you would still like to make public comment on any of the planned projects, or the study results as a whole, contact:
Justin Smart or Carri Hulet, 801.388.1839 or chulet@langdongroupinc.com

Spread the word - open houses June 11 and 12

Life is a Highway...
Originally uploaded by justpedalhard

I received this email today. Invite your neighbors, and attend! For more, visit UDOT:

Please join us for the final set of Public Open Houses regarding the Davis Weber East-West Transportation Study:

Davis County
Wednesday, June 11
4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Clearfield City Offices
55 S. State Street, Clearfield

Weber County
Thursday, June 12
4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Ogden Union Station, Theater Annex
2501 Wall Avenue, Ogden

The meeting format and content are identical both nights. Please feel free to attend whichever is most convenient for you.

Since our last Open Houses in February, we have narrowed down the transportation options from four packages to one package with modifications. At the Open Houses, you will have the opportunity to evaluate and make comment on the proposed set of transportation projects, and to learn about the process that produced the current proposal. Any comments received at the Open Houses will be considered by the Study Team and the Steering Committee during final review and revisions before the study results are presented to the Legislature in September.

Plain City Council response

Brett Ferrin, Plain City Councilman, has sent me new information by email that all Plain City folks may be interested in:

Just recently the city council held a planning meeting and talked about our ideas as to where we want this corridor to be. It is important that you understand that the city council is the one that will ultimately decide where this corridor will be not the Wasatch Front Regional Council. Our agreement was unanimous that the corridor through Plain City should be out around 5200 West connecting to 4000 N. out north somewhere. For an exact idea I would invite you to visit city hall and look at the map that is there.

Thank you to Brett for sending information along. I haven't yet been to City Hall to see the map, but it sounds promising.

Comment on these questions...

To make it easier to comment by email, here are the questions included on the comment cards from the public open house for the Davis Weber East-West Transportation Study. Just copy and paste into an email to chulet@langdongroupinc.com.

COMMENT CARD
Please rank your preference of
transportation packages
(1 =most preferred; 4 =least preferred)
_ Blue _ Red
_ Yellow _ Orange
What were the most important considerations for you in ranking
the transportation options? Why?
_ Improved mobility within Davis/Weber Counties
_ Improved access to major N-S routes
_ Improved access to FrontRunner and other transit
_ Minimized disruption to eXisting neighborhoods
_ Minimized envrionmental impacts such as air quality and wetlands
_ Other(s) (please explain)
Do you generally agree or disagree with the land use plans and
growth projections for the study area in the year 2040 and beyond?
_ Agree _ Disagree
Explain:
Other comments, input, or suggestions for the Study Team:

COMMENT CARD
YELLOW
1) Do you think the combination of projects in this transportation
package meets the stated vision? Why or why not?
2) Does this transportation package match your vision of Davis and
Weber Counties in 2040? How is it similar? How is it different?
3) If you could change anything about this package, what would it
be, and why?
4) Are there any specific projects in this package that you especially
like or don't like? Why?
5) Are there specific locations that you think merit additional
considerations for transportation improvements due to unique
environmental, social, or other factors? Explain how you think this
package enhances or degrades these areas.

COMMENT CARD
BLUE
1) Do you think the combination of projects in this transportation
package meets the stated vision? Why or why not?
2) Does this transportation package match your vision of Davis and
Weber Counties in 2040? How is it similar? How is it different?
3) If you could change anything about this package, what would it
be, and why?
4) Are there any specific projects in this package that you especially
like or don't like? Why?
5) Are there specific locations that you think merit additional
considerations for transportation improvements due to unique
environmental, social, or other factors? Explain how you think this
package enhances or degrades these areas.

COMMENT CARD
RED
1) Do you think the combination of projects in this transportation
package meets the stated vision? Why or why not?
2) Does this transportation package match your vision of Davis and
Weber Counties in 2040? How is it similar? How is it different?
3) If you could change anything about this package, what would it
be, and why?
4) Are there any specific projects in this package that you especially
like or don't like? Why?
5) Are there specific locations that you think merit additional
considerations for transportation improvements due to unique
environmental, social, or other factors? Explain how you think this
package enhances or degrades these areas.

COMMENT CARD
ORANGE
1) Do you think the combination of projects in this transportation
package meets the stated vision? Why or why not?
2) Does this transportation package match your vision of Davis and
Weber Counties in 2040? How is it similar? How is it different?
3) If you could change anything about this package, what would it
be, and why?
4) Are there any specific projects in this package that you especially
like or don't like? Why?
5) Are there specific locations that you think merit additional
considerations for transportation improvements due to unique
environmental, social, or other factors? Explain how you think this
package enhances or degrades these areas.

Reminder: Make your comments by Mon., Mar. 3!

Please remember to make your comments on the Davis Weber East-West Transportation Study by this coming Monday, March 3!

What I like about the way the Study Team is handling this particular study is that they are starting with a vision for the communities, and then deciding what types of road configurations will fit into that vision. So often, the default mode is: we need a road; where can we put it? This Study Team is committed to finding out from members of the community which Study vision aligns most closely with their own desires for the community. But this only works if they get public comment! Take time to email or call in your comments ASAP!

You can email your comments to chulet@langdongroupinc.com, or call 801-388-1839.

Comments Welcome

I was not sure exactly how to handle comments to this blog. At first, I thought it would be helpful to only allow registered users to comment, but soon realized that many of the visitors to this blog would not have an OpenID or Blogger account. What I hoped to prevent was some of the license to name call or finger point that anonymity lends itself to. I decided instead to go to moderated comments, which will allow anyone to make comments, but also allow me to help the blog stay fair, clean and respectful. I'll post any comments except for those that include labeling / name calling and profanity.

And probably, my fears are a bit unfounded because the comment number is exactly - zero - at this point. However, I would like to stir up some commentary and dialogue here, so please feel free to let your feelings be known, even if you disagree with someone or your viewpoint is unpopular. Just keep it respectful.

What happened to North Legacy?

For those of you who are wondering what happened to the North Legacy Corridor transportation planning, I know how you feel! I wondered the same until I talked to a representative of the study at the Davis Weber East-West Transportation Study Open House last week.

From what I understand, the study had been temporarily put on hold after the suggested routes received so much negative public comment. The focus shifted to total transportation planning and east-west routes; however, North Legacy is present and accounted for in each transportation package (with the exception of Orange). In the maps for each package, you'll see some differences, however: Yellow includes a six-lane arterial, and it's only a two-lane arterial in Red and Blue.

For residents in Plain City who may be wondering what happened to Option 2 (a possible alternative further west that spares about 70 houses), it may still be on the table. The North Legacy route shown on each map is "for illustrative purposes only" and has not been decided. If the Mayor and City Council plan to preserve both routes for now, it may not be decided for some time.

Apparently, the North Legacy Corridor Study will be picked back up in a few months. At that time, the Study Team will hold Open Houses and request more public involvement. If you would like to be notified when meeting are held, I will post when I hear something (just make sure you have subscribed). I was also told that everyone who provided public comment last fall will be notified directly.

Revealing my bias

My husband asked me today if I would be so committed to my involvement in this process if one of the potential roads didn't go right over my house. "Probably not," I replied. And I'm not a city / transportation planning professional or elected official. I'm simply a citizen who wants a voice in the transportation planning process.

So part of my intention in getting community involvement going in the transportation planning process is to save my house and the homes of my neighbors. In addition, I would love to see the rural way of life in western Weber County preserved. I want to see historical buildings saved. I want more walkable communities. I want to hold developers accountable to planning for the good of the community rather than just looking for open space to fill with houses and commercial buildings. I want to prevent WalMart from coming into my community. Ultimately, I want the environment in our community to contribute to my family's quality of life.

With all the things that I want, I'm continuing to learn the ecology of all of those desires. Some of my desires may exclude others. I guess I'll discover that as time goes on. However, above all, I want to be informed and involved. I believe that the commitment to respectful dialogue will lead us to a solution that will meet needs that seem to be diametrically opposed to each other.

How are our leaders involved?

So, I'd like to know: how are our community leaders involved in the study process for the Davis Weber East-West Corridor Study? I don't see anyone representating Plain City (the community where I live) on the Study Team list, but that doesn't mean that they aren't consulting somehow. Of course, the process to determine the roads that are needed and then to build them will last longer than any city administration, but the current process of developing a vision for our communities and then deciding on transportation priorities to fit that vision is a crucial one.

If you are visiting this website and are involved in community government in any of the affected communities, I'd like to know how you are representing those who elected you. Feel free to comment!

Invitation to other voices

I know that there's essentially one voice on this blog so far: mine. However, I am happy to post other opinions, editorials, or commentary. Just email me at pshurd(at)gmail(dot)com if you would like me to post something. I will not post anything anonymous.