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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Transportation received more than 6,000 comments from the public on its recent proposal to study transportation needs in western Davis County.
The response was more than expected, but officials say each one will be duly considered.
"No decision has been made at this point," said Randy Jefferies, UDOT project manager for the West Davis Corridor Environmental Impact Study. He said the public comment period, which ended Friday, March 25, has been informative and helpful in the ongoing process to "identify a potential corridor with the lowest impact to residents, wetlands, agricultural areas and communities as a whole."
Already, UDOT engineers are making changes on the three proposed routes presented to the public in early February, Jefferies said, adding that the changes "will be visible" to the public when a draft EIS statement is presented early next year.
"We expect people to be concerned and passionate about these things that affect their communities," UDOT spokesman Vic Saunders said Wednesday. "We really don't have a truckload of bulldozers ready to take down houses where we want to build a road."
The comments received from the 45-day period elicited so many varying opinions on the matter that UDOT had to hire additional to help sort through them all.
In all, approximately 2,700 residents attended UDOT's three public hearings in February at West Point, Farmington and West Haven.
Farmington and Kaysville residents have been the loudest, so to speak, perhaps because there is only one route proposed to run through that area instead of the three in other areas along the proposed roadway, Jefferies said.
Among the most common issues mentioned were concerns the proposed highway would divide neighborhoods, disturb wetland areas that might be protected by certain laws, and disrupt agriculture and farmlands, as well as the possibility of increased noise levels.
"There is definitely a broad range of different perspectives," Jefferies said. "UDOT, along with the cities and counties, know there needs to be a transportation corridor out there at some point. … We know there is support for a West Davis Corridor, now we just have to determine the best place for it."
(We) know there needs to be a transportation corridor out there at some point. We know there is support for a West Davis Corridor, now we just have to determine the best place for it.
–UDOT spokesman Vic Saunders
Jefferies said tremendous growth projected over the next 30 years necessitates the project: The number of homes is expected to double, resulting in three times the amount of traffic congestion.
Still, the option not to build a road at all will also be considered, he said.
There will be at least one more chance for citizens, municipalities, state and federal resource agencies, and other interested groups to provide input on the proposed roadway, but that will come after nearly a year's worth of analysis and refinement.
"We're all on the same team," Jefferies said. "We all want good transportation, good quality of life and to minimize impacts."
UDOT's goal is "to get it right," he said.
A final decision on the potential corridor won't be presented until 2013, when the Federal Highway Administration has had a chance to respond to a final version of the EIS. After that, UDOT will still have to seek approval and funding from the state Legislature.
While the period for public comment is over, Saunders said UDOT wants to answer the questions people have and "get the right information out there." Anyone with a question is encouraged send an email to WestDavis@utah.gov. For more information, visit www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis.
E-mail:wleonard@ksl.com
