UDOT’s Wasatch Blvd Expansion update

Firstly, are you getting tired of the subject of the Wasatch Blvd Expansion?

So am I.

Perfunctory info: UDOT’s summer FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) was for a “5-lane phased” Wasatch Blvd Expansion. The WFRC 2050 RTP (Regional Transportation Plan) show this expansion scheduled for “Phase 1” (2023-30). UDOT indicates a phased (6-lane width) “2-lane Imbalance” design with unprotected bike lanes located within the Express Bus Lanes and a separated multi-use path only on the east side of the road. (Don’t confuse the “FEIS” with the “ROD” (Record of Decision), which is really their final decision, indicated for “winter 2023”.) The project manager has led us to believe the ROD will mirror the FEIS.

To accomplish protection from an agency like UDOT, a well-funded state agency who was founded to build highways, our city must get it right in our own Wasatch Blvd Master Plan (WSB MP) as to what we want.

According to the UDOT LCC EIS project manager in 2019: “Your WSB MP is too vague. You need an executive summary that states exactly what you want.” Cottonwood Heights soon after came out with an eleven-page executive summary that was equally as vague as the full document.

After years of studying and conferring with transportation experts, I could support a revised WSB MP that resembles something like this within the 2.6 mile Bengal/Golden Hills corridor of SR 210/WSB:

·      Road redesign including necessary width, curves, chicanes, islands, bulb-outs in which drivers feel comfortable driving at 35mph

·      One vehicular lane in each direction, protected bike lanes, and separated, multi-use path on east and west side

·      Periodic median lanes for left turners and landscaped, median safety-islands facilitating frequently-placed safe crossings for non-motorists

·      Express Buses travel with private motorists but are afforded periodic shoulder lanes at signaled intersections that prioritize busses to go ahead of private vehicles at peak congested times

Secondly, before elected, I often pondered, as a citizen, why it felt like the direction was already set by city council before I became aware of certain major city projects. That is because they were.

On January 31st, council goes into a once-a-year all day retreat to prioritize what we will do for the calendar year. That is why it is critical that if you have any opinions or directional advice for council, the 7pm, January 17th meeting is the time to do it. 3 minute maximum statement.

I am going to be plain speaking about the need for a revised Wasatch Blvd Master Plan. This, I hope, will be understood as an effort to inform the community and not to tear down others who have been well-intentioned and worked to the best of their ability in creating the 2019 master plan.  

While our over 100 page document has pictures and diagrams of landscaped medians and buses only running at peak times along shoulder lanes, there are two distinct problems.

Firstly, unlike the 2017 Fort Union Blvd Master Plan that had 42 residents as the steering committee, the 2019 Wasatch Blvd Master Plan had no residents, only outside consulting firms, UDOT and WFRC (Wasatch Front Regional Council) in the acknowledgements. Including regional thinking for a state route is necessary, but there was, in my opinion, no check and balance system that looked out for residents and non-motorists. No city staff involved lived in Cottonwood Heights.  

I urge you to read the WSB MP in its entirety, but pages 144 and 145 (below) hold the key. At a glance, the diagram leads one to believe that the additional shoulder lanes would only be used for buses, HOV or cyclists, but on page 145 the plan gives the thumbs up to "private vehicle use at peak times". This takes away the whole thrust of protecting residents from induced demand. And, that is only if, in fact, UDOT followed through on how their enormously wide roadway is utilized.

Some will argue that once elected, council members make the decisions as they see fit. My philosophy is to continue public engagement throughout my 4-year term, not just during election cycle. Public engagement differs from "talking to my constituents” (one to one)."

Why do I make this distinction?

I actively work with staff to include timely information and meaningful articles in the monthly newsletter, am the only Cottonwood Hts elected representative holding town hall meetings and writing on city issues and challenges regularly within a website. I say this not to ring my own bell, but for citizens to understand that status quo politics benefit developers. An informed and engaged citizenry is key to a successful representative democracy.

I will also be posting in my website, as requested by constituents, a list of current subjects on which your city council is currently or will shortly be deliberating.

This is your community. I am working to help all of us see ourselves as engaged citizens not merely consumers.