Need for the Project

The southern Salt Lake Valley is one of the fastest growing areas in the state of Utah. The 11400 South Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) study area lies within the south valley and includes portions of Draper, Riverton, Sandy, and South Jordan cities. Total population within these four cities is expected to increase by 90 percent by the year 2030 over 2000 population numbers.

Maintaining the current quality of life is important to the cities and the residents within the study area. This quality of life includes neighborhood-style communities in which residents know their neighbors, live in rural and suburban neighborhoods, have access to family recreation such as parks and trails, and have convenient access to work, services, and stores.

In order to maintain, protect and improve the quality of life, now and into the future, the cities within the study area have identified the following needs that must be addressed:

1. Mobility within the study area needs to be improved.
A traffic analysis of existing conditions within the study area was conducted and modeling of future traffic conditions through 2030 was completed. The modeling of existing conditions evaluates what the study area roadway conditions will be after construction activities to widen 12300/12600 South are complete and after 10400 South has been widened to four lanes. The traffic model of future conditions includes all the transportation improvements identified in the Wasatch Front Regional Council’s Long-range Plan, including transit, except for master planned improvements at 11400 South. Based on these studies, there are three major intersections and two interchanges within the study area that currently operate at or over capacity; by 2030, eight major intersections and two interchanges within the study area are expected to be at or over capacity (Table 1). The existing conditions analysis also shows that several major roadway segments within the study area are currently at or over capacity; by 2030, all of 12300/12600 South and all of 10400/10600 South within the study area will be either at or over capacity, as will several major north-south roadway segments within the study area (Table 2). This reduced intersection and roadway capacity causes increased roadway congestion, difficulties and delays in commuting to work and traveling to local destinations, and reductions in emergency services response times, resulting in adverse impacts to quality of life.

2. Economic development within the study area needs to continue in order for cities to maintain the quality of life their residents desire.
According to the four cities within the Study Area, continued economic development is necessary to provide additional employment and adequate access to goods and services for current and future residents within the study area. In addition, the increased sales tax revenue is needed to allow cities to continue providing the necessary public services and quality of life enhancements to the growing residential population. Economic development is most successful at major intersections and along higher capacity roadways. Insufficient capacity along major roadways and limited access to major intersections and I-15 would hinder economic development.

Purpose of the Project

The purpose of the project will be to address the needs identified above. Specifically, the purpose is to maintain, protect and improve the quality of life by improving mobility and providing transportation infrastructure to support economic development within the study area through the year 2030.

Table 1. Intersections at or Over Capacity during Morning and Afternoon Peak Hours*

Table 2. Roadway Segments at or Over Daily Capacity***