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Lehi secures corridor preservation for Pony Express Parkway; full five‑lane buildout would cost far more
Summary
Lehi secured MAG corridor preservation and $12.69 million in design/construction funding (available ~2026) for the Pony Express Parkway/1900 South corridor; the city will buy a 105‑foot right of way but initially build a two‑lane roadway, and upgrading to a full five lanes later would add an estimated $15–20 million (split with American Fork).
City transportation staff briefed the City Council on progress purchasing right‑of‑way and preparing design work for the Pony Express Parkway/1900 South corridor.
Brad Kinison summarized the project history: the corridor has been on Lehi’s transportation plan since 2001. In 2022 Lehi requested and received corridor preservation funding from MAG/Utah County and later was granted $12,690,000 in design and construction funding that becomes available in roughly 2026. Because the project spans municipal boundaries, Lehi entered an agreement with American Fork to split costs; Lehi’s local responsibility for the MAG match is roughly 6.77% (about $430,000).
The conceptual plan purchases the full right-of-way for a five‑lane cross section (105‑foot corridor) but — acknowledging funding constraints — anticipates initially constructing a two‑lane roadway with three‑lane widenings at intersections (a common MAG 'pioneer road' approach). Kinison said Saratoga Springs recently secured additional MAG funding to construct a five‑lane section on its portion and will bid construction in the coming months.
Kinison said constructing the full five‑lane cross section from Lehi Center Street to American Fork 700 West now would cost an additional estimated $15–20 million (to be split roughly between Lehi and American Fork), and staff recommended purchasing right‑of‑way and beginning design now while pursuing reimbursement/partner funding to avoid forcing Lehi to front the full cost without a reimbursement mechanism. Council members raised concerns about how a wider Saratoga buildout might funnel traffic into Lehi neighborhoods and discussed timing, potential federal/state funding mechanisms, and coordinating with neighboring cities and UDOT on the Vineyard Connector timeline.
Staff said design‑phase contracts (to select a design/environmental engineer) are anticipated to come to council in March and that up to $1 million in design work may start before construction funding is released.
