HEBER CITY, Utah-The Heber Valley Corridor EIS project team is working with stakeholders to evaluate improvements to address and enhance mobility throughout the Heber Valley. It is also to improve the operation of Heber City Main Street (U.S. 40).
The project team at @UDOTRegionthree has some updates for you on the Heber Valley EIS & what to expect in the coming months, including public mtgs. planned for early Oct. Visit the project website for more information. #HVCEIS #HeberValley @UtahDOT
🔗 https://t.co/speiRMT6PU pic.twitter.com/OTihOc3fou— UDOT Region Three (@UDOTRegionthree) September 16, 2021
Through this process, UDOT will develop alternatives for transportation. This may include a reconfiguration of Main Street, improvements to other area roads, the construction of new roads and other options identified by the public.
The current phase of the study process lasts through winter 2021.
The purpose of this present timeline is to develop alternative concepts, conduct public meetings and have a 30-day comment period.
Heber Valley Corridor EIS currently reports that by virtue of comments received during the scoping period, which occurred earlier this year, UDOT has revised the study’s purpose.
This entails non-motorized transportation (or active transportation) as a primary purpose.
Non-motorized transportation was initially included as a secondary objective.
Accommodations for non-motorized transportation, such as cycling and walking could be provided through trails, bike lanes and more.
This would be incorporated into alternative concepts passing the screening process.
A revised purpose and need technical report will be available when conceptual alternatives are presented in early October.
The purpose and need drives the environmental study process and lays a foundation for the types of alternatives developed.
The screening criteria will be used to screen potential alternatives.
The study team has commenced preliminary work on developing these alternatives and has identified a range of conceptual alternatives to address the purpose and need.
These include concepts informed by previous studies, public comments received throughout the current study and traffic analysis conducted by the EIS team.
Under this process, US 40 would be improved along its current alignment, as well as west bypass options, east bypass options, a one-way couplet and transit.
Alternatives are presently only conceptual. Alternative concepts that do not meet the purpose and need, or perform similarly to other alternatives, but have greater impacts to key resources, will be eliminated during the screening process.
Remaining concepts will be further developed before the detailed impact analysis.
Virtual and in-person meetings are planned for early October to present the concepts for public and agency review and comment.
The virtual meeting is slated for October 5 and will be followed by an in-person meeting October 6.
The 30-day public comment period is scheduled for October 5-November 4.
During this comment period, UDOT will be seeking comments on the range of alternatives under consideration, criteria used to screen alternatives and identification of social, economic and environmental considerations.
