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WFRC to release preliminary household and jobs forecast for staff review; interactive map planned
Summary
WFRC analytics staff previewed the household and job forecast process for the RTP cycle, said the forecast will extend to 2055, and invited jurisdictions to review a preliminary TAZ‑level map and submit corrections or local inputs ahead of finalization.
WFRC analytics staff previewed the agency’s process for producing the household and job forecasts that feed the regional travel model and the 2027 RTP. The forecast will extend year‑by‑year through 2055, build on Gardner Policy Institute county projections and distribute growth to transportation analysis zones (TAZs) using an UrbanSim real‑estate market model.
Bert Granberg, analytics lead, and Josh Reynolds described the inputs and outreach plan: staff will compile a standardized set of local general plans and Wasatch Choice center definitions, assemble a “pipeline” of near‑term development projects, run the UrbanSim market model and produce a preliminary TAZ‑level forecast. WFRC will post an interactive map (preliminary forecast) that allows jurisdictions to view forecasts by TAZ and city area, download data and submit localized comments. Staff said they expect to publish the interactive preliminary forecast in late August and ask jurisdictions for review and corrections; a more final draft will be produced by the end of the year for use in RTP analysis.
Granberg emphasized that county control totals from the Gardner Policy Institute are binding inputs — growth is a zero‑sum distribution within each county — and that model outputs will be tuned with local input. He described TAZ sizes (averaging roughly one square mile in the region) and said the forecast supports travel demand modeling, air quality analysis and other planning products. WFRC staff requested contact names for each jurisdiction to coordinate review.
Staff said the forecast will not be perfect but that local review helps create a more plausible distribution of households and jobs for the travel model. The timeline provided shows preliminary forecast distribution in late August, comment collection in the following months, a final draft by end of year and continued refinements toward RTP adoption in 2027.
