'More ways for Utahns to get to their destinations'
John Rogers
Four years after its initial release, Utah’s transportation stakeholders have released an update to their Unified Transportation Plan. The plan is comprehensive in that it identifies statewide transportation priorities across all modes of travel from now until 2050.
The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT); Utah Transit Authority; and metropolitan planning organizations Cache MPO, Dixie MPO, Mountainland Association of Governments and Wasatch Front Regional Council all contributed to the creation of the plan, in collaboration with cities and counties, legislators, business and community organizations and other stakeholders.
In releasing the plan, available to the public at unified plan.org, the authors said it has a “primary goal of preserving and enhancing quality of life in Utah even as we grow.” The proposals contained in the plan expand capacity to meet Utah’s growth by planning for new bike and pedestrian paths, increasing frequency of transit service along with new transit options via bus and rail and providing for new or upgraded state and local roads.
“As Utah’s Unified Transportation Plan is implemented, Utahns will experience more ways to get to their destinations,” the joint planners said in their release statement. “The plan provides transportation alternatives to improve health, safety and air quality. It boosts transportation efficiency and better connects Utahns to their jobs and other destinations.”
The plan outlines the benefits in its implementation, including:
- Utah households will on average experience 5.8 fewer days driving, freeing up time for other activities.
- Utah’s economy will strengthen through increased investment in infrastructure, with each dollar invested multiplying 2.5 times through economic and job growth.
- Utah’s GDP will grow by approximately $247 billion and more than 271,000 jobs will be added.
- Utahn’s will breathe cleaner air, with a projected statewide reduction in emissions of 13 percent.
- Active transportation pathways will be increased by 4,700 miles, roughly equal to the distance of riding a bicycle from Salt Lake City to Boston and back again.
Beyond community and statewide benefits, this edition of the plan features stories about Utahns who have benefited from Utah’s transportation system in everyday ways. These stories are threaded into the presentation of the plan.
Previous versions of the plan, including the most recent release in 2019, have been nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Transportation as a national model for being collaborative, comprehensive and demonstrating the principle that collaboration brings superior results.
“Utah’s great quality of life keeps generations of families here and attracts many new residents every year,” said Gov. Spencer Cox. “Careful, collaborative transportation planning is key to ensuring safe, efficient and comfortable travel for all Utahns. Community health, economic vibrance and livability are closely linked to travel choices — from walking and biking to riding transit to driving. We’re committed to giving Utahns options and building a system that supports individuals, families, and communities throughout our great state.”
“Transportation projects are expensive and can be difficult to implement. It is critical that projects are a result of a robust, transparent and effective planning process,” said Bryan Cox, Hyde Park mayor and chair of the Cache MPO. “The Utah Unified Transportation Plan is the result of a coordinated and comprehensive planning process that will allow taxpayers to have confidence that public funds are spent in the most cost-effective way to meet the future mobility challenges for all parts of the state.”
“As our state grows, we are committed to providing safe transportation choices for all people to get where they want, when they want, in the way they want,” said Carlos Braceras, UDOT executive director. “Those needs are different today than they were in previous years and in the Unified Plan, transportation partners throughout the state collaborate to identify solutions for the evolving needs that we anticipate in the years ahead.”