Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Regional Transportation Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Long‑range planning group seeks feedback on draft 2027–2055 regional transportation plan scenario
Summary
The Wasatch Front long‑range planning group presented the draft preferred scenario for the 2027–2055 Regional Transportation Plan, described its screening and modeling steps, and invited technical comments by mid‑August and broader feedback at fall workshops ahead of a planned May 2027 adoption.
The Wasatch Front long‑range planning group briefed the Technical Advisory Committee on the draft preferred scenario for the 2027–2055 Regional Transportation Plan and asked engineering staff for technical feedback ahead of a public workshop series.
Why it matters: The regional transportation plan (RTP) sets the long‑range project priorities that guide the TIP, federal funding eligibility and local planning across the Wasatch Front.
Julie Bjornstead, deputy director of the long‑range planning group, described the project selection process: investigators started with concepts from the 2023 RTP and fall 2024 workshops, tested scenarios (operations projects, street connectivity, enhanced bus and fixed‑guideway networks, and the Beehive bikeways) in the travel‑demand model, and applied an initial and then a technical screening to identify projects that produce measurable benefits.
Bjornstead said the group is offering an interactive map that compares the adopted 2023 RTP with the draft 2027 preferred scenario and allows users to leave comments. She asked technical staff to review and provide comments within a week or two (mid‑August) and noted the fall workshops (October‑November) will invite a broader set of stakeholders, including planning, engineering, economic‑development staff and elected officials. Bjornstead told the committee staff plan to finalize financial projections and phasing in 2026 and anticipate plan adoption in May 2027.
She summarized screening criteria: roadway projects were evaluated for volume needs, volume‑to‑capacity improvements, operational and safety benefits, freight mobility and street connectivity; transit projects were screened for modeled ridership and access; active‑transportation projects were evaluated for regional scope, barrier removal, serving major destinations and facility type (for example, cycletracks or shared‑use paths rather than shoulder projects).
Bjornstead said the long‑range group will send an email to engineering staff with the interactive map and request comments; she provided an updated contact address (julie.bjornstead@wfrc.utah.gov) and a group inbox for long‑range planning. The group emphasized technical comments now and broader public engagement at the fall workshops.
Discussion only: Committee members had no substantive questions at the meeting; staff will review technical comments and incorporate changes where warranted.
Ending: The planning group will distribute the interactive map and seek comments by mid‑August, followed by fall workshops and additional fiscal and phasing work through 2026 ahead of a planned May 2027 adoption.
