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Lehi City Transportation: Planning for Our Future

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INSUFFICIENT PLANNING IN THE PAST

Transportation planning in rapid growth areas like Utah County is complicated and requires collaboration from multiple organizations, including city, county, and state agencies. Unfortunately, the planning for transportation in high growth areas has been failing, primarily from not looking far enough into the future. Major roadways intended to function many years into the future have failed shortly after completion due to inadequate growth projections. This should cause us all to reconsider how we plan for the future.

Insufficient planning results in costly reconstruction and acquisition of developed land. It should not be reasonable to purchase land after it has developed to build or widen transportation corridors. A short-sighted planning process greatly increases the burden on Utah taxpayers in the future. When planning for regional transportation corridors, the State of Utah needs to make data-driven decisions that look past the currently contemplated 30-year horizon.

LOCAL PROJECTIONS

Growth is not unique to Lehi. It is occurring all along the Wasatch Front. In recent years Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, and Vineyard have seen greater growth than Lehi. Unfortunately, our neighbors growth to the west greatly impacts Lehi City. Projections (including recent changes in state housing legislation) estimate a future population of 395,000 people living west of Lehi. That is a population increase of over four times the current number of residents. This will generate enough traffic to cripple our current transportation system.

WHY HASN'T LEHI PLANNED BETTER?

We have tried. In the last 30 years Lehi has transitions from a small farming community to the economic engine of the State of Utah. While our location along I-15 is an ideal location for business and provides great access to a highly skilled and educated labor force, it comes with some challenges. One major challenge is that our roads provide our neighbors to the west with the only access to I-15.

Since 2018, Mayor Johnson, the City Council, and staff have been working with an independent traffic engineering consultant to understand our traffic concerns. We have collected all available data to fully understand traffic concerns now and into the future. Using this data, we have worked with local, state, and federal representatives to propose the Point of the Mountain Connector Freeway, Clubhouse Extension, and a southern east/west corridor.

PLANNING FOR OUR FUTURE

A 20 - 30 year projection window does not address the rapid growth-related transportation problems in northern Utah County. For example, 2100 North and Pioneer Crossing were constructed using similar projections and quickly exceeded capacity after completion. We have encouraged changes to help with the flow of traffic, including signal timing adjustments and intersection improvements.

Based on recent transportation forecasts, it appears a freeway at either 1900 South or traversing the north end of Utah Lake would provide the best connectivity from the cities west of Lehi to the Provo/Orem area. In addition, the proposed lake crossing between Saratoga Springs and Provo is needed in the future. Finally, we continue participate in planning for the Point of the Mountain Connector, the 2100 North Freeway and Clubhouse extension to help with traffic going north.

We need to work together to plan for what lies ahead. You can help by encouraging your local, state, and federal representatives to make data-driven decisions and plan appropriately for our future.


INSUFFICIENT PLANNING IN THE PAST

Transportation planning in rapid growth areas like Utah County is complicated and requires collaboration from multiple organizations, including city, county, and state agencies. Unfortunately, the planning for transportation in high growth areas has been failing, primarily from not looking far enough into the future. Major roadways intended to function many years into the future have failed shortly after completion due to inadequate growth projections. This should cause us all to reconsider how we plan for the future.

Insufficient planning results in costly reconstruction and acquisition of developed land. It should not be reasonable to purchase land after it has developed to build or widen transportation corridors. A short-sighted planning process greatly increases the burden on Utah taxpayers in the future. When planning for regional transportation corridors, the State of Utah needs to make data-driven decisions that look past the currently contemplated 30-year horizon.

LOCAL PROJECTIONS

Growth is not unique to Lehi. It is occurring all along the Wasatch Front. In recent years Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, and Vineyard have seen greater growth than Lehi. Unfortunately, our neighbors growth to the west greatly impacts Lehi City. Projections (including recent changes in state housing legislation) estimate a future population of 395,000 people living west of Lehi. That is a population increase of over four times the current number of residents. This will generate enough traffic to cripple our current transportation system.

WHY HASN'T LEHI PLANNED BETTER?

We have tried. In the last 30 years Lehi has transitions from a small farming community to the economic engine of the State of Utah. While our location along I-15 is an ideal location for business and provides great access to a highly skilled and educated labor force, it comes with some challenges. One major challenge is that our roads provide our neighbors to the west with the only access to I-15.

Since 2018, Mayor Johnson, the City Council, and staff have been working with an independent traffic engineering consultant to understand our traffic concerns. We have collected all available data to fully understand traffic concerns now and into the future. Using this data, we have worked with local, state, and federal representatives to propose the Point of the Mountain Connector Freeway, Clubhouse Extension, and a southern east/west corridor.

PLANNING FOR OUR FUTURE

A 20 - 30 year projection window does not address the rapid growth-related transportation problems in northern Utah County. For example, 2100 North and Pioneer Crossing were constructed using similar projections and quickly exceeded capacity after completion. We have encouraged changes to help with the flow of traffic, including signal timing adjustments and intersection improvements.

Based on recent transportation forecasts, it appears a freeway at either 1900 South or traversing the north end of Utah Lake would provide the best connectivity from the cities west of Lehi to the Provo/Orem area. In addition, the proposed lake crossing between Saratoga Springs and Provo is needed in the future. Finally, we continue participate in planning for the Point of the Mountain Connector, the 2100 North Freeway and Clubhouse extension to help with traffic going north.

We need to work together to plan for what lies ahead. You can help by encouraging your local, state, and federal representatives to make data-driven decisions and plan appropriately for our future.

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Page last updated: 20 May 2024, 12:45 PM