This summer's traffic jams on I-15 appear to be convincing Wasatch Front residents something needs to be done to create another transportation corridor between Salt Lake City and Ogden.
Turnout was high at three open houses held over the past two weeks to get public input on a location for a western transportation corridor through Davis County."We're getting good comments, positive comments," said study coordinator Jon Nepstad from the Wasatch Front Regional Council.
"Usually at these sessions you get critical comments, but we're getting positive comments now. People realize that something needs to be done," Nepstad said.
Between 90 and 100 people turned out at each of the three open houses held in Salt Lake, Weber and Davis counties, Nepstad said.
Fueled by a grant from the Legislature, the consulting firm of Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade and Douglas Inc. was hired to study possible routes for a new transportation corridor connecting Salt Lake City and Ogden, running through Davis County.
The corridor would include a highway, utility easements and possibly the relocated rail lines that now parallel I-15 through the county.
Nearly two dozen routes and alternatives have been suggested and will be reviewed.
Two routes have been eliminated: one that swings west across the Great Salt Lake on a causeway and runs down Antelope Island and one that would cut straight across the Farmington Bay Wildfowl Refuge.
The two routes were eliminated because of their high construction and maintenance costs, coupled with their unacceptably high impacts on wetlands and wildlife, according to the consultants.
Nepstad said the proposed merger of the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads could have a positive impact on future plans.
If the merger is approved by federal regulators, the railroads have expressed interest in moving the rail lines that now parallel I-15 farther west as part of the new corridor, Nepstad said.
That proposal has also picked up support from Salt Lake officials, who would also like the lines that now separate the city's downtown from its west side removed.
Building new rail lines through the western portion of Davis County could open the existing lines for use as a commuter rail line, Nepstad said, as part of the overall study of transit alternatives.
"It's one of the possibilities that's out there that we're looking at," Nepstad said. "But a lot of things have to happen for that to come together."
After several rounds of public hearings and information meetings, the consultants will present their recommendations this fall, probably in November.
The next phase, a more-detailed environmental study, would then start if more funding comes through, Nepstad said.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Alternative routes: WASATCH FRONT
KEY
A 5600 West/I-80 Interchange to Northwest corner of S.L.C. Airport
B West of the S.L. Airport on 4800 West
C Center of the S.L. Airport from Bangerter Hwy (4000 W.)/I-80 Interchange
D East of the S.L. Airport on 2200 West
E Northwest corner of S.L. Airport to D&RGW rail line in Centerville
F Redwood Road from I-215 Interchange
G I-15 from I-80 to U.S. 89
H Farmington Bay
I Power line from Centerville through Kaysville
J Parallel west side of I-15 Centerville through Farmington
K North/south connections to U.S. 89, I-15 intersection in Farmington
L D&RGW rail line from Centerville to Kaysville
L2 D&RGW rail line from Kaysville through West Haven
M Connection between D&RGW rail line and Bluff Road.
N Bluff Road from Kaysville to West Point
O 4500 West (Davis County) and 5500 West (Weber County)
P I-15 from U.S. 89 to Ogden
Q S.R. 108/Midland Drive to horth of Ogden Airport
R Howard Slough south from West Point to Ogden
S Howard Slough north from West Point to Ogden
T 4700 West (Weber County) and 3500 West (Davis County)
U 2200 North from 4800 West to I-215
V 6400 West to the northwest corner of S.L. Airport
W East/West connection to U.S. 89/I-15 intersection in Farmington