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Emery County travel office presents BLM-shared traffic-counter data; ties results to TRT-funded trail and services support
Summary
The county travel office showed vehicle-count data from BLM-shared counters, highlighting post‑COVID spikes, weekend midday peaks and site-by-site differences; officials discussed using the data to target transient room tax (TRT) funding for trails, visitor centers and public-safety staffing.
Andy, Emery County's travel and tourism director, presented vehicle traffic-counter data the county shares with the BLM and outlined how the office uses transient room tax (TRT) funds to support trails, visitor centers and public-safety staffing.
Andy described the counters as vehicle 'click' devices installed at access roads and trailheads and cautioned they measure vehicles, not individual visitors. He highlighted sample results for Buckhorn Draw (average daily traffic about 42 vehicles), Buckhorn Reservoir (average daily traffic about 120 vehicles, with a weekly peak of 2,778 vehicles on the week of April 14), Cedar Mountain Overlook (average 5 vehicles), and the Wedge Overlook (average 35 vehicles). He noted many counters show the highest annual use in 2021, consistent with TRT revenue and a post‑COVID visitation spike.
Board members asked whether the devices are cameras (they are not), whether livestock or industrial trucks register counts (magnetic counters register metal; some infrared counters register animals or hikers), and who has access to the dashboard. Andy said the county uses TRT dollars and matching grants to buy counters and that the partnership with the BLM gives the county access to all agency counters; access requires a license and the county limits user accounts. He offered to share site data on request.
Andy framed the counters as a planning tool to identify where mitigation, trails maintenance or visitor services may be needed, and he reminded the board TRT funds by statute must be used for marketing and mitigation in specific percentages. He said the county now spends more TRT on event-driven marketing, trail maintenance and agreements that fund road and emergency staffing.
The board requested more data for specific sites and discussed sharing the counters' results with the road and planning departments. The travel office said it would provide access or let designated county staff pull targeted reports.
