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Wasatch Choice proposes five simple "on‑the‑ground" metrics and a virtual‑centers tool to track progress
Summary
WFRC staff proposed five streamlined progress measures — transportation choices, housing affordability (including transportation costs), parks and public spaces, strength of centers and access to opportunities — and previewed an interactive "virtual centers" visualization. Committee members suggested adding homeownership and coordinating measures
South Jordan, Utah — Wasatch Front Regional Council deputy director Ted Knowlton presented a proposed beta set of five user‑facing progress measures on Aug. 21 intended to show "on‑the‑ground" progress toward the Wasatch Choice vision. The measures aim to be simple, public‑facing indicators that link land use and transportation outcomes and to help local officials, planners and residents understand progress in their communities.
The five proposed measures (the "Big 5") are:
- Access to opportunities: the average number of job opportunities reachable within a typical commute. - Transportation choices: the percentage of residents within a 10‑minute walk (about a half‑mile) of frequent transit service. - Housing affordability (housing + transportation costs): a combined affordability measure that accounts for both housing payments and typical transportation expenses. - Parks and public spaces: the percentage of residents within a 10‑minute walk to a park, trailhead or trail. - Strength of centers: the percentage of homes and jobs located within identified city and town centers.
Knowlton described the measures as intentionally concise and designed for multiple audiences, including the public and policymakers. He said the goal is to track each indicator over time, show community‑level breakdowns and, where useful, provide a five‑ to ten‑year forecast.
Committee feedback and suggested additions
Committee members supported the overall direction and suggested refinements. Laura Hansen of the governor's office told the committee that combining housing and transportation costs was important because many Utah residents live far from jobs to find affordable housing and that transit investment can reduce total household costs. Mayor Dawn Ramsey suggested explicitly including homeownership within the affordability measure so cities that prioritize owner‑occupied housing could see that outcome reflected. Several members suggested coordinating with other organizations (for example, the Utah Foundation) to align measures and reduce duplicated research effort.
Virtual centers preview
Staff also previewed an interactive "virtual centers" tool that combines imagery, panoramas and model elements to help officials and the public visualize different options for city and town centers. The tool is intended as a planning resource and will be released publicly in the coming weeks after additional testing.
How WFRC plans to proceed
WFRC staff said this is a beta effort; the Big 5 would be the initial suite of measures with a secondary set of metrics to follow (for example, congestion, air quality and driving distances). Staff will solicit committee feedback in fall workshops and will reach out to partner organizations to explore alignment. The measures are intended to inform regional planning and, where appropriate, help communities identify gaps and local investment priorities.
(Selected quote from the meeting: Ted Knowlton, WFRC deputy director: "What's the average number of job opportunities within a typical commute?")
