But these new routes could make an impact, they say, if cities and counties also changed their land-use philosophy - adding more dense housing, reusing existing buildings and creating neighborhood-friendly schools.

Now these planners, along with Envision Utah, are trying to sell city politicians on their plan, called Wasatch Choices 2040.

Their final report, released Friday, outlines strategies for creating the first-ever regional land-use and transportation plan. Proposed roads and rail on a regional, state or federal level would complement the zoning, sewer and water decisions made by city councils.

"This is a way of directing growth and maintaining our quality of life," said West Valley City Mayor Dennis Nordfelt, who also is chairman of the transportation planning organization Wasatch Front Regional Council.

The regional council uses the report's "growth principals" to prioritize which roads and rail projects to fund. And West Valley City recently adopted the same principals for all land-use decisions. Envision Utah, a group that pushed quality growth strategies, plans to lobby other cities to follow suit.

The need for a plan that stretches from Ogden to Provo is obvious to Nordfelt.

"The citizens in West Valley don't know where the boundaries are," he said. For them, the Wasatch Front is one contiguous metro area, though it doesn't function like one.

The report argues for a fundamental shift away from the commuter mentality that is now widespread and a move to more business hubs in the suburbs where people live, work and shop in close proximity.

These hubs would lower the number of trips people would take and the stress on the transportation system. But the plan also calls for more transportation choices as well, from highways to light rail to wider side streets, which also include bike paths.

This dual approach is necessary as the Wasatch Front population continues to rapidly grow, Nordfelt said. Salt Lake County now has about 1 million residents. Utah County is fast approaching half a million and is expected to double in the next 25 years.

The recent tax increases approved by voters in Utah and Salt Lake counties would help expand light rail and further the Wasatch Choices vision, said Chuck Chappell, executive director of the Wasatch Front Regional Council.

The regional council oversees transportation planning in Davis, Weber and Salt Lake counties. The Mountainland Association of Governments fulfills the same role for Utah County. The Wasatch Choices plan is the most significant tie between the two organizations to date.

mcanham@sltrib.com

Wasatch Choices

2040 Growth Strategies

* Redevelop existing buildings

* Optimize use of existing roads, transit and utilities

* Promote compact development

* Encourage job growth in each part of the valley

* Coordinate transportation with job centers and schools

* Provide housing for people in all life stages

* Include a wide spectrum of people in planning process