Public Comment Worksheet #2

Cheri

Informations

• Publié par: Vowyor
• Nombre de lectures: 34
• Langue: Slovak

Extrait

Public Comment Worksheet Analysis – Second Alternate Truck Route Study Open House Uintah Transportation Special Service District

Prepared by: Wilkinson Ferrari & Company 1371 East 2100 South, Suite 100 Salt Lake City, Utah 84105-3753

June 3, 2008

Table of Contents 1. Introduction.................................................................................................................3........................................ 2. Quantitative Analysis (Questions 1 – 5)........................................3.................................................................. 3. Open-ended Analysis (Questions 6 - 7)......................4.................................................................................... 3.1 Connections to the Alternate Transportation Corridor ..................................................................4 3.2 Traffic ..................................................................5 3.3 Impacts to Property ..................................................................6 3.4 Safety ..................................................................6 3.5 Development ..................................................................6 3.6 Cost ..................................................................6 3.7 Process ..................................................................7 3.8 Environmental ..................................................................7 3.9 Airport ..................................................................7 3.10 Other ..................................................................7

Page2of8

1.Introduction The Uintah Transportation Special Service District (UTSSD) presented its recommendation for a

future alternate transportation corridor at a public open house held on Wednesday, May 7,

2008, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Western Park in Vernal. More than 100 people attended this

open house and a total of 79 people provided comments at the open house and throughout the

public comment period.

The public was encouraged to fill out a comment worksheet provided at the open house and on

UTSSD’s website. This worksheet contained five quantitative questions and two open-ended

questions regarding an alternate transportation corridor in Vernal and UTSSD’s recommended

route.

2.Quantitative Analysis (Questions 1 – 5) The results of questions 1 – 5 on the public comment worksheets received during the second

UTSSD open house and comment period indicate that preserving an alternate transportation

corridor is very important. The results also indicate that from those that filled out the comment

sheets there is tremendous support for preserving a corridor from McCoy Flat to US 40 south of

Naples but that most people thought it was less important to connect Vernal Avenue to the

corridor.

The specific results for those responding to questions 1 – 5 on the public comment worksheets

are as follows:

1.Please tell us using a 1 - 5 scale, how important transportation is to Uintah County’s development and growth.  86% stated that transportation is very important to Uintah County’s development and growth. 2.Do you think Uintah County should preserve an alternate transportation corridor?  92% stated that Uintah County should preserve an alternate transportation corridor.

Page3of8

3.

3.How important do you think it is for your community to preserve an alternate transportation corridor and protect it from future development until a roadway can be built?  81% stated that it is very important to preserve an alternate transportation corridor and protect it from future development until a roadway can be built. 4.Do you support preserving a corridor from McCoy Flat to U.S. 40 south of Naples?  92% stated support for preserving a corridor from McCoy Flat to US 40 south of Naples. 5.How important do you think it is to connect Vernal Avenue to the future transportation corridor?  82% stated that it is not at all important to connect Vernal Avenue to the future transportation corridor.

Open-ended Analysis (Questions 6 - 7)

The information below is a summary of the written public comments received from questions 6

– 7 of the UTSSD public comment worksheet. In general, the written responses to these

questions indicated strong support for UTSSD’s recommended route from McCoy Flat to US 40

south of Naples. However, the comments also indicated strong opposition for a possible connection between the recommended route and Vernal Avenue.

Question number 6 of the public comment worksheet asked if there are any other roads that

should be connected to the alternate transportation corridor. Question number 7 asked the

public to tell UTSSD about any other issues, concerns or questions they may have.

3.1

Connections to the Alternate Transportation Corridor

The connection between the alternate transportation corridor and other roads was the most

popular topic found in the written comments. The majority of those commenting on this topic

stated that Vernal Avenue should not be connected with the alternate transportation corridor.

Many people wrote that a bypass north of Vernal that connects with U.S. Route 191 should be

Page4of8

considered. There were many people who stated support for Bonanza Highway being connected

with the alternate transportation corridor; however, there were a few who stated opposition to

this connection. Many people stated that there are no other roads that should be connected

with the alternate transportation corridor. When making comments about possible connections,

there were many who continued to state support for UTSSD’s recommended alternate

transportation corridor regardless of how they felt about possible connections to this corridor.

There was a recommendation that the route through the industrial area be determined before

that area is fully developed. One person stated that the alternate transportation corridor will

directly impact her private property.

3.2

Traffic and Route Use

Keeping additional traffic out of residential areas was the next most popular topic found in the

written comments. The majority of these comments alluded to Vernal Avenue having too many

homes, recreation and day care centers and would not make for a safe tie-in with the alternate

transportation corridor. Many of these people reflected that Vernal Avenue already has enough

traffic travelling on it. Similar to what was heard at the first open house, many people

commented that residential areas should be avoided for reasons including: safety, property

devaluation, noise and pollution. There were comments stating that the purpose of identifying

an alternate transportation corridor was to keep it out of residential areas and connecting the

route with Vernal Avenue defeats that purpose.

A few people stated that truck traffic would not use a designated alternate route due to the

current location of oil related companies. At least one person suggested that there needs to be

more discussion regarding possible regulations prohibiting truck traffic through Vernal and

another stated that trucks should be required to decrease their speed by at least 10 miles per

hour. Another person supported truck traffic using an alternate transportation corridor because

it reduces the liability of operating trucks through a community. And another person wrote that

it is anticipated that an additional 200 – 400 trucks per day will be driving to Salt Lake City and

that an alternate transportation corridor was a necessity.

Page5of8

3.3

Impacts to Property

Quite a few people stated concern about the possible impacts to property if Vernal Avenue was

connected to the alternate transportation corridor. There were concerns about property

devaluation and the visual impacts that would result from connecting residential areas with an

alternate transportation corridor. A few also stated concern about the loss of privacy in

residential and rural areas.

3.4

Safety

There were quite a few people who stated that connecting the alternate transportation corridor

with a residential area would result in safety issues for their children. At least one person

worried about the safety of pets and livestock. Another person stated that Vernal Avenue

should be avoided when considering connections with the alternate transportation corridor

because it goes downhill and causes a safety hazard.

3.5

Development

A few comments warned that connecting Vernal Avenue to the alternate transportation corridor

would be detrimental to development since 600 building permits have been issued in this area.

At least one person suggested that the route needs to be selected in the industrial area so

development such as a truck stop could take place and provide an incentive for trucks to use

the route. Another person suggested preserving the land between 6500 South and 8500 South

for future home development.

3.6

Cost

There were a few people who thought that connecting Vernal Avenue to the alternate

transportation corridor would not be cost effective. One person wrote that widening Vernal th th Avenue is a waste of money when other roads such as 5 West and 5 East have already been

widened and could be used for the same purpose. A few people stated that a four lane

highway is a waste of tax payer money since the oil fields will not always be in existence. And

another person wrote that the alternate transportation corridor should go around the mountain

instead of over it to save money.

Page6of8

There were a few people who stated concerns about the impacts the alternate transportation

corridor would have on the economy. They stated concerns for food, fuel and lodging and

asked if the route would discourage tourists from frequenting downtown Vernal.

3.7

Process

A few people thanked UTSSD for the opportunity to comment throughout the study process.

However, there were a few people who stated concern that they were mislead about the

possibility of connecting Vernal Avenue to the alternate transportation corridor.

3.8

Environmental

A few people raised environmental concerns about the possible impacts a connection with

Vernal Avenue would have on wildlife and a creek in this area. There were a few concerns

about noise and visual impacts and the increased pollution from the roadway. One person

stated concern that an environmental study had not even been suggested throughout the

process.

3.9

Airport

A few people questioned if the study had considered the relationship between the location of

the airport and the recommended corridor.

3.10

Other











There is a request that Fidlar Road should be paved to Bonanza Highway and

that Stanton Road to the state line should be improved. th Another expressed a need for repairs to be made on 5 West from 1500 South

on the south end of the road.

There is concern about east Highway 40 improvements from Naples to the

Industrial Park.

There is an interest in understanding the impact of the new turn lanes at

Industrial Park.

Others wanted to inform the District about a natural gas pipeline around 5500 –

6000 South.

Page7of8