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FARMINGTON — Utah Department of Transportation officials announced Friday that a proposed alternative to the West Davis Corridor freeway is no longer being considered.
UDOT determined that the Shared Solution proposal — which was suggested by a coalition of nongovernment organizations and citizen groups as an alternative to extending Legacy Parkway to the north — wouldn't meet the future transportation needs in the areas of west Davis and Weber counties.
“Though it did provide some transportation benefit, it did not provide the substantial benefits to meet the need for 2040,” said project manager Randy Jefferies.
The alternative to the highway extension proposed by the Shared Solution coalition was designed to "enhance existing roads and mass transit" and move the same amount of traffic that the West Davis Corridor freeway would, according to its website. Among other things, it proposed redesigning intersections to increase traffic flow, improving east-west arterial roads, and building a middle lane along I-15 to serve southbound traffic in the morning and northbound traffic in the evening.
The "West Davis Corridor is a proposed 20-mile stretch from Farmington to Hooper. The preliminary estimated cost of the project would be in the $600 million range, Jefferies said.
A funding mechanism for the project has not yet been determined.
Critics of an extension of the Legacy Parkway say the highway would cause irreparable damage to wetlands and birds, force the demolition of homes and waste taxpayer money. Proponents say it will reduce congestion and handle the transportation needs of the growing communities.
Jefferies said many of the Shared Solution group's recommendations will likely be incorporated into the final project.
“By working with the Shared Solution coalition, we’ve identified some key elements that will make the alternatives that much better,” he said. “This collaborative effort will result in a more effective transportation solution for Davis and Weber counties.”
Such recommendations include new trails, noise-reducing pavement, dark-sky lighting, lower elevations in certain locations, landscaping, berms and other aesthetic enhancements, Jefferies said.
Some of the Shared Solution suggestions are already being planned for use in other projects, including a new local road crossing over I-15, trail connections to a FrontRunner station and managed motorways that will provide a more efficient way of managing traffic flow onto the freeway, he said.
“These are all excellent suggestions that will greatly enhance transportation plans in the future,” Jefferies said. “Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians will have a better experience on the West Davis Corridor because of the work and ideas of the Shared Solution coalition.”
Jefferies noted that UDOT and coalition members have participated in more than 50 meetings over the past few years to develop and refine the Shared Solution alternative.
The initial screening of alternatives evaluated how well each alternative would reduce delay and congestion in the study area, he explained. Because the Shared Solution recommendations would not substantially reduce delay and congestion in the study area, it was determined that the alternative would not meet the transportation needs.
No final decision has been made regarding the location or construction of the West Davis Corridor while additional analysis of the remaining alternatives takes place, he said. The final environmental study is expected by next spring.
“We want to continue to work with the stakeholders to make the alternatives the best we can moving forward,” Jefferies said. “We’re optimistic that at the end of the day working together, we can find the best solution for transportation in this area.”
Contributing: Keith McCord
