Report on Ellen’s D4 Oct 10th Town Hall
Upon request, the following gives a brief update for anyone who missed the October 10th D4 Town Hall Meeting.
1. Ellen’s “Safe Mobility for All Users” initiative that includes road & path surfaces & maintenance, continuity of sidewalks & bike lanes, Neighborhood Bypass Routes, long term collector & arterial improvements
This effort is on the heels of the recent "Midvalley Active Transportation Plan". This multi-city endeavor includes Taylorsville, Midvale, Murray, Millcreek, CH and Holladay. In its initial stage, it attempts to create a backbone of bike lanes and paths to interconnect our region. Cottonwood Heights has many Active Transportation concepts but currently leave cyclists and pedestrians with disconnected, often unsafe routes.
After my "Intro to eBiking" event at Golden Hills Park in July, co-sponsored with Magnum Bikes, my plan is for Cottonwood Heights to ultimately have "Safe Mobility for All Users". Because realizing the level of safety we need on collectors and arterials will take grants, city money and political will, it will not happen overnight. The initial step is to focus on, Neighborhood Bypass Routes (NBRs).
The purpose of NBRs is to give pedestrians and cyclists suggested routes on local streets for getting around within the city and for their trips into surrounding cities to the south, west and north. It will need to include improved, safe crossing through collectors and arterials, "sharrow" striping, wayfinding signage, etc. The mayor supports my efforts to work with the community and city staff to identify best NBRs and give oversight to moving this initiative ahead.
2. City Centre/Apple Valley/Horrocks Study
Due to the severe back up on SR 190, SR 210 and Fort Union Blvd during certain peak winter mornings and the associated "neighborhood cut-through" traffic AND the current and projected danger yearround associated with SR 210 around its intersection with Ft. Union, concerned citizens demanded the City study this challenge and come up with suggested relief.
The "Horrocks Study Ft. Union Blvd" is what staff presented this summer. While disappointing in its analysis of SR 210/Ft Union area, it did present some viable suggestions to curtail cut-through traffic for Apple Valley and City Centre area residents. Staff indicates that "Do Not Block Intersection" will be painted on Fort Union Blvd at intersections and signed. In November, council will consider a temporary road block where Winesap meets Racquet Club Drive.
I am also working to get "No Through Traffic/Locals Only" at the neighborhood entries along the south side of Ft. Union by year's end. I will put forward to Council at our January Retreat that better solutions be a priority in 2023.
3. Dover Hills Park
Negotiations led by city staff with Ivory Homes and the LDS Church are still underway for the city to obtain approximately two acres for community park within the parcel that the LDS Church currently has up for sale.
4. SLEDS (Sensitive Lands Economic Dev Study)
Most of District 4 is designated as "sensitive lands" because of seismic, riparian and other features. Having recent meetings with geologists and coming to appreciate the propensity for major seismic activity within our Wasatch Fault Zone by 2050, I cannot support the city's current plan for an "Urban Core" designation for the 150+ acres where the gravel pit currently operates near BCC mouth.
Important side note: This "Urban Core" designation along with McCandless' 2020 LCC EIS comment to UDOT for a "La Caille Village" including hotel, houses and restaurant may be driving the SR 210/Wasatch Blvd highway expansion. There is no projected other major growth in eastern "Southeast SLCO Quadrant" that would warrant the UDOT/WFRC resolve for creation of a higher volume arterial through our district.
City staff has been in process throughout this year of revising SLEDS ordinance. The Planning Commission has reviewed and passed it along to City Council. Council is receiving staff presentations during its 4pm each first and third Tuesday of each month work sessions. Date for the finalization of the revised SLEDS is still TBD.
5. LCC EIS development
In late August: UDOT announced their "Final LCC EIS" of "Gondola B with phasing". The reason the phasing part -- which actually had some good features such as enhanced busing, enhanced bus facilities, tolling and snow sheds — HAS TWO MAJOR DOWNSIDES:
1. UDOT indicates that implementing the $159,000,000 phased approach will only occur while the gondola is being built and the busing will go away once gondola is operable.
2. Within the "phased approach" is their "5-lane preference with phased in Imbalance-lane" for SR 210 though Cottonwood Heights. This is a disaster for CH residents as well as the pedestrians and cyclists who recreate along this gateway to Big and Little Cottonwood canyons.
In October: SLCO and SLC passed resolutions denouncing UDOT's preference for gondola in favor of "practical, phased solutions" such as enhanced busing, enhanced bus facilities, tire traction programs, etc.
Good news: Two major municipalities and partners within the LCC EIS process do not support UDOT's "Final EIS"
Bad news: Neither SLCO nor SLC understand the unnecessary, unsustainable and net negative effect that a six to seven lane width Wasatch Blvd Expansion has. This is work WE (meaning all of us) still have yet to do. And, we need to do this right away before WFRC confirms this expansion within their 2023-30 RTP (Regional Transportation Plan) later this year!
October 17: Public comment period ended October 17th.
Please remember, the Wasatch Blvd Expansion has gotten lost in the shuffle. Emphasis by most organizations, agencies and municipalities has been on 'fighting the gondola'.
FIRST: We must get an updated traffic study. Pre-Covid traffic analysis and 2050 projections from which UDOT works are outdated or flawed.
SECOND: We must get our own City to acknowledge that the CH Wasatch Blvd Master Plan (since it was steered by UDOT and WFRC) allows, encourages the ultra-wide build out.
THIRD: We must exert pressure on City, UDOT and WFRC to IMPROVE NOT EXPAND Wasatch Blvd. It is earmarked for expansion within WFRC Phase One (2023-30). Now is the time to insist that build out should only come AFTER viable transit is instituted on existing north/south arterials (i.e. Highland Drive)and WHEN/IF traffic is consistently LOS E or F.
(pictured below: UDOT's futuristic illustration of their Wasatch Blvd Expansion. It is shown with sparing traffic. If we don’t currently have traffic, why ruin the boulevard (all pine trees will be replaced with black asphalt and concrete walls) AND induce more cars, trucks and motorcycles?)
