Mayors of Utah Valley: In transportation funding, all politics is local – Daily Herald

The calendar says it will soon be Halloween, but my mind is already looking ahead to Christmas.

Maybe it’s that certain stores are putting out their winter decorations, or maybe it’s that I’m thinking about the cost of this year’s gift giving. What I do know is that a concerted effort must be made to plan and allocate dollars where they’re needed most.

Part of my duties as mayor of Eagle Mountain include participating in the Mountainland Association of Governments’ discussions to allocate state infrastructure dollars.

There are no guarantees, but Eagle Mountain is anticipating the state will invest additional dollars in transportation in the spring of 2024.

While our state legislators work to find additional transportation dollars, it’s important that our city representatives — especially those in Utah County — coalesce around needed infrastructure projects in an area whose growth is outpacing the available funding.

None of us like the morning commute, but what is becoming increasingly inexcusable is an inability to wisely put dollars into areas in need of a solution.

In my opinion, many city representatives attending MAG’s meetings vote to invest dollars in a way they perceive as fair and balanced. I have my doubts that this is the most effective way to make decisions. Instead, there is talk among MAG members to change course and use a data-driven approach.

North Utah County is experiencing traffic issues that are becoming increasingly challenging. Between Lehi, Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain, the inability to fund much-needed infrastructure projects on a timeline that matches population growth has residents feeling justifiably frustrated.

This is not to say there aren’t infrastructure projects that should be heavily considered in other areas of Utah County.

What I am trying to say is that without action to fast-track funding for the expansion of state Route 73 in addition to the already funded Mountain View Corridor and 2100 North, this area could fall years behind in its development and, more importantly, its regional competitiveness.

These projects in northwest Utah County score very well according to the Utah Department of Transportation and, with some further research and consideration, I believe these same projects could score equally well with MAG members and representatives.

While this may mean that some of our partner cities in other sections of Utah County will have to wait for their projects to be prioritized, it does not do Utah County any favors to more evenly spread dollars in the name of fairness. Surely there are better approaches that can offer high-quality solutions.

It’s understandable the state does not wish to make these decisions for what ought to be a regional planning effort. Utilizing MAG localizes problem-solving and helps facilitate a more dynamic dialogue between cities and state representatives.

In Utah County, I believe there is a path forward that is intentional, data-driven, considerate of all parties involved and seeks solutions that improve quality of life for our residents.

By setting aside what I believe to be an imperfect process that incentivizes political maneuvering, our partners in the Mountainland Association of Governments can come together around a data-driven model.

This is not a perfect solution, either. But it does a lot to fix what is currently not working at the local level.

At last check, the state has a projected shortfall in the billions over the next 30 years in planning for its infrastructure needs. This is a problem that politicking and perceived fairness will not solve.

Let me offer an example that I believe could be problematic without making this change. State Route 73 in Eagle Mountain needs to expand. UDOT has already made plans to turn it into an expressway with frontage roads. The goal is to improve traffic flows, safety and accommodate the growth of the community.

Currently, Eagle Mountain has a population of 65,000 residents. Population projections estimate that Eagle Mountain’s future population will exceed 100,000 residents within the next decade.

Without expanding SR 73, traffic backups, inefficiencies and motor vehicle accidents will become issues that will be challenging to explain away.

The expansion of Mountain View Corridor, 2100 North and SR 73 ought to be front and center in the discussion for where to invest dollars in our regional planning conversations.

Utah County is no longer a Provo and Orem-centric place. The major growth of this county, the major investment taking place and the new population centers will be in the northwest region of this county.

Let’s join in a way that makes sense, is scientifically backed and that takes the political contention out of limited funding.

State infrastructure season is coming up. We can plan, gift this money where its needed most and celebrate with appreciation. This is what the spirit of the season does for our Utah County family.

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