Master Transportation Plan Amendment

I strongly oppose this amendment as a homeowner on the northshore of Utah lake. This will disrupt wildlife in the area as well as the gorgeous view we have. Everything is being built up around us do not build on the lake too! Preserve the beauty of Utah lake!
Jamie Schaible

I strongly oppose this amendment as a homeowner on the northshore of Utah lake. This will disrupt wildlife in the area as well as the gorgeous view we have. Everything is being built up around us do not build on the lake too! Preserve the beauty of Utah lake!

I am for the amendment. When all is said and done, I believe this version of the highway would bring the most benefit to all of us living in Lehi, Saratoga Springs, and Eagle Mountain. It seems to be at this stage that we are gathering opinions about moving forward with very little research on the impact it will make. If it is found to be desirable, this will later become surveys and legal questions. Let’s focus on if we believe this to be the best course of action first given the lack of a full review. I for one think that the north lake highway would benefit us the most.

The off-shore highway proposed by Lehi City would need be permitted by the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL). From the agency's initial review, it does not appear this proposed off-shore highway complies with the public trust doctrine. The plan amendment indicates a structure would need to be placed on sovereign lands which could pose a threat to navigation of Utah Lake. FFSL also recognizes the North Shore of Utah Lake contains significant wetlands and other important natural habitats. FFSL has concerns about the impacts this highway project would have to those wetlands and sensitive lands.

I am vehemently opposed to an offshore freeway. Utah lake is such a unique and valuable natural resource. A freeway would cause irreparable damage to the lake and wildlife who inhabit it. The bird population alone would be forever disrupted and changed. The north shore is a stopover spot for birds as they fly across the lake on their migration paths. Please do not build an offshore freeway. Our natural resources are sacred and should be protected, not exploited.

I am strongly opposed to an offshore freeway as this would cause irreversible environmental damage. We can get creative and find alternative means to transportation.

I am strongly against the ammendment to build an offshore freeway. Utah has a beautiful natural environment and this proposition would cause irreversible environmental damage. It's important we preserve Utah's unique and beautiful land. While inconvenient to expand 1900 S, it would be no different from the other freeway expansions happening across the state. It is better that individuals experience temporary inconvenient than an environment be permanently destroyed.

There are better ways to alleviate traffic than interfere with ecosystems and damage natural beauty and habitat. Haven’t we learned enough about the disastrous impacts from the ill fated island debacle? No studies are needed. Nature knows best and a causeway would NOT be in the best interest of citizens.

To Mayor Johnson, Lehi City Council, Lehi Planning Commission, and UDOT,

Please deny this amendment. I encourage Lehi to work with UDOT, American Fork, Saratoga Springs, and Eagle Mountain to develop more feasible and appropriate alternatives.

I also suggest your premise is too constraining, “Growth in Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs requires additional ROAD capacity.”, should more appropriately state, “Growth in Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs requires additional TRANSPORTATION capacity. “

The off-shore freeway proposal is not in the best interests of Lehi, North shore communities, and all Utah residents. This proposal is environmentally damaging, restricts boating and fishing recreational use, probably infringes on water users’ rights at the pump house, does not comply with ULA resolution 2023-01, potentially damaging to the taxpayer funded 10 yearlong FFSL restoration project along the north shore, and is most likely unconstitutional under the Public Trust Doctrine. Some may support considering all options, but wasting time, effort, and money to study this proposal and commence an EIS is simply a waste of resources, which many of us have to pay for. We can do better!

I suggest a better use of time, money and energy is spent on delivering more viable transportation solutions, including:
• Widening Pioneer Crossing, even if it means correcting prior mistakes in rights of way and developer plans, eliminating sidewalks, and/or creating over/under passes
• Increase capacity on 1900 South and widen the Jordan River bridge
• Creating front-runner spurs and light-trail options to connect to the Lehi and/or American Fork stations
• Creating bus rapid transit and express routes


Could we please stop giving benefits to developers, putting the burdens on residents, and consider feasible and beneficial TRANSPORTATION alternatives?

I am opposed to an offshore freeway. I imagine it would be a costly and unsightly option. Even if we were to do one why would we do it so close to shore? It's the worst of both worlds. If we had to do a causeway based road let's take it into the lake a little, at least that way it would be less visibly impactful not respecting the environmental cost.

I am in support of considering a future off-shore freeway. East-west connection is a problem for not only Lehi, but all surrounding communities in northern Utah County (Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, Lehi, and American Fork). Because it is on the plan does not mean it will happen tomorrow or even in 20 years, but it leaves the possibility to explore and consider. Let UDOT fund and complete an environmental study and consider the resulting recommendation(s).

I oppose the construction of an offshore freeway that cuts through Utah Lake. Utah Lake provides irreplaceable habitat for wildlife and opportunities for recreation to people who live in northern Utah. Cutting down on congestion is not nearly worth the price of damaging the lake. There must be other solutions to this problem than destroying this land that provides priceless value to the community.

I work on the north shore of Utah Lake. An offshore freeway would irreparably damage this unique ecosystem that so many locals and Utah residents value. There is no reason to build this freeway as there are other viable options (e.g., expansion of existing roadways; increased investment in mass transit) that would be much less environmentally damaging.

I am opposed to building a freeway across Utah Lake. The lake is healing now, and we want it to continue. It seems that public transportation would significantly help cut down on the amount of traffic. Trax or bus routes in Lehi could be a solution.

I'm opposed to the plan. An offshore freeway would permanently and negatively impact lake for recreation, damage the ecology. We need to leave natural and recreation spaces better than we found them for future generations. I support other options to enhance existing corridors and to expand/improve mass transit to Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain as an alternative to paving over Utah lake.

I am opposed to the plan of an offshore freeway. There are easier ways to improve transportation problems without damaging the areas near Utah Lake. Utah Lake is a precious commodity that provides hours and hours of joy for my family and me as we recreate on the lake. It also provides wetlands for birds and wildlife. Please don't rob us of this priceless, PUBLIC gem in order to shorten a commute. Please consider expanding existing roadways or adding more public transportation opportunities in Lehi. Thank you for your time and service to our community.

I hope that the planning commission reconsiders this amendment. Encouraging the construction of a freeway in Utah Lake would send a bad message about long-term transportation solutions for northern Utah County. Building on the lake is extremely hard, costly, and environmentally damaging. As we saw with the island proposal, it would also likely be controversial and legally challenging.

I hope that the planning commission can work with UDOT to find a solution that enhances the beauty and uniqueness of Lehi while addressing the transportation concerns. This could include revisiting UDOT's traffic models and scenarios. For example, I have heard from a traffic engineer that the model used for evaluating these alternatives is over-calibrated to the point where it replicates current conditions well but has very little sensitivity to new transit improvements. There are multiple development patterns for Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, and Lehi where needs could be met through a spur of Front Runner, light rail, or bus rapid transit like we have in Provo/Orem.

Thank you for your service and foresight.

I am opposed to these plans. What if we considered using a ferry to taxi people from Saratoga Springs shore to Orem/Provo?

I oppose this plan. Why? Environmental impacts, public trust issues, interference with ongoing projects along the north lakeshore, and less risky traffic management options, to name a few reasons. FFSL has spent taxpayer money for the successful 10 year rehabilitation of wetlands on the north shore of the lake. Saratoga Springs is in the midst of a multi-year public marina project on the north shore, funded by taxpayers. Both of these projects have been publicly discussed as recently as last week at the ULA symposium. Was the ULA consulted on this off shore highway plan? Do they support this option? Do adjacent municipalities support this proposal? Apparently not. Have the public trust issues regarding management of Utah Lake been considered before making this off-shore highway proposal? There are multiple options to address traffic management as noted in other comments, including east-west mass transit, and I'll throw an additional one out here... elevated roadway over existing highway? If this proposal gets added to the management plan, DOTs first step will be to conduct an EIS. Why would we condone spending taxpayer dollars to conduct an EIS on a project with so many questions and risks where there are less risky, more feasible alternatives? Nip this in the bud. Deny the amendment.

I am opposed to the plan of an offshore freeway and 1900 expansion. If we could get away with leaving Pioneer Crossing alone too I would say leave it be.
When you start developing more in areas away from freeway access that was when things needing to be considered. The time is too late to consider now when you are going to have to impose on people, their homes, and the community, and the nature and views they have grown to love.
When we moved into our home, which over looks beautiful Utah lake with the was arch mountains in the background completely unobstructed. Moving to Lehi was an opportunity to escape the hustle bustle of big city and congestion and traffic and freeways. It was to live in a place that is quiet, beautiful, away from our busy day jobs and give us solace in nature. To sit in our back deck in the summer and enjoy the beautiful views with people we love, to give our children a safe place to live, play, and explore. With 2 schools right in the areas you are looking to mess with I worry for the many children that walk and bike to school and their safety. With a rise in the number of children being hit by cars on the way to school I don't like the idea of them having to be around these roads in order to get to school. Also if many parents have the same concern they are going to begin driving the children which will then add to the congestion problem you are trying to fix.
Please first consider building a trax to connect to the frontrunner station(s) in American Fork and/or Lehi before these road expansions. Public transportation is being supported by federal bills, ie the inflation reduction act which provided Utah with over a billion dollars to support infrastructure and investment of public transportation. I would be much happier paying higher taxes for that than this proposed plan.
Speaking of taxes what will be the implication of our property values if these roads are expanded or this off shore freeway if put on (specifically for those of us at this north shore area)?
If I knew this was an idea when I bought my house I would have chosen to go elsewhere and avoid here. I currently love my home, my neighborhood, and my area; however, this plan would make selling my home in the future harder and make my happiness dwindle. Don't you want your residents happy?
As someone who drives to and back to Saratoga Springs every morning and every afternoon I feel like finishing up the current projects would greatly help with the mess right now.
To be very clear, I am opposed to these plans.