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Officials seek public comment on how to spend $4 billion on Wasatch Front transportation over the next 5 years

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The intersection of I-215 and Redwood Road is one of UDOT's 10 big construction projects for 2018. Monday, April 2, 2018.

  | July 3, 2018, 11:29 p.m.
| Updated: July 4, 2018, 12:59 a.m.

Do you applaud or hate the proposal to add to regional transportation plans $10.8 million for the West Davis Corridor freeway in Kaysville and Farmington — which some resident groups fought but state officials are pushing forward?

How about a new $75 million bus rapid transit route from downtown Ogden to Weber State University — sort of a TRAX on rubber wheels where buses often have their own lanes?

They are among projects that the Wasatch Front Regional Council is proposing to add to its new 2019-24 Transportation Improvement Program, a step needed for projects to qualify for federal funding.

The council is seeking public comment through Aug. 4 on that five-year plan, which is updated annually. The plan sets priorities on how to spend about $4 billion on roads and transit in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Tooele, Morgan and Box Elder counties.

A complete list of projects is available online at wfrc.org/tip, and residents may comment on it through that website.

The regional council has also scheduled two open houses to answer questions about the plan. One is scheduled for July 10 at the Ogden Intermodal Center, 2350 Wall Ave. in Ogden, and on July 12 at the Salt Lake Central Station, 250 S. 600 West in Salt Lake City. Both events will run from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Some other interesting new projects proposed for addition to new plan — beyond what was proposed previously — include:

• Spending more than $4 million to rebuild Utah Transit Authority train engines to reduce emissions and better comply with clean-air standards.

• Spending $637,000 to expand the GREENbike-share program in Salt Lake City by adding more stations and bicycles.

• Spending $4.3 million to reconstruct 1300 East in Salt Lake City from 2100 South to the southern city border.

• Reconstruct and widen 3900 South, including a center turn lane, in Millcreek from 2300 East to Wasatch Boulevard at a cost of $8.7 million.

• Improving congested intersections including State Street and 5300 South in Murray, Highland Drive and 4500 South in Holladay, and 9000 South and Monroe Street in Sandy.