Provo's Lewis Billings and Orem's Jerry Washburn, in their annual addresses to the Provo-Orem Chamber of Commerce on Friday, said not only is Interstate 15's reconstruction critical to the region, but so is improving alternate routes such as Geneva Road.

And, they said, don't forget developing commuter rail and bus-rapid-transit service.

"We are looking at doubling the population by 2030," Washburn told chamber members. "Our landmass doesn't double and our roadways don't double, so we have to make more efficient use of our roads and transit systems."

One way is bus rapid transit, which would have buses operating along dedicated traffic lanes between Provo Towne Centre and a transportation hub near Utah Valley State College in Orem.

But transit is only a part of the plan.

Improving local roads also is vital, they said, because they will act as alternate routes when I-15 reconstruction begins.

The work won't come cheap: $3.5 billion. And, said Billings, Utah County officials and residents need to lobby the Legislature to ensure the funding addresses local concerns.

"Those north of Point of the Mountain would like to take those billions for their projects," the Provo mayor said. And each day it is put off merely adds $400,000 to the eventual price tag, he warned.

However, Billings said the area's transit issues aren't confined to the ground. The Federal Aviation Administration has agreed to partially fund air-surveillance radar at Provo's airport, leaving the state and the city to come up with $2 million.

In his speech, Washburn also gave a progress report on Orem's battle against Japanese beetles. He said state agriculture officials announced that the spraying program has been so effective that some of the residents in the affected area will be able to have gardens next year. Those residents were barred last year from planting vegetable gardens while the area was sprayed for the insect.

dmeyers@sltrib.com