Record of Decision:  The Federal Highway Administration has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Layton Interchange project.  The ROD was signed on December 24, 2008; approves the preferred Alternative from the FEIS as the Selected Alternative for this project.

The Selected Alternative provides for a transportation project consisting of a full interchange over I-15 at Milepost 330; a grade-separated railroad overpass over the UPRR as part of the new interchange; a new five lane roadway from Fort Lane to Flint Street (750 South connection); removing the existing partial Layton Interchange near the same location; removing the existing at-grade railroad crossing at 900 South and constructing a cul-de-sac on the west side of the railroad; providing signalized intersections at Flint Street, Main Street, and Fort Lane on the 750 South connection; widening Main Street at the Gentile Street intersection to three travel lanes in each direction with two left-turn lanes going south, one left-turn lane going north, and one dedicated right-turn lane in each direction; and adding one left-turn lane and one dedicated right-turn lane on Gentile Street in each direction at the Main Street intersection.

The Selected Alternative meets the project’s Purpose and Need by addressing current and projected traffic demand and operations for the Layton Interchange (I-15 Exit 330), providing an unrestricted access across the Union Pacific Railroad to the developing area of west Layton, and providing adequate transportation facilities and traffic capacity west of I-15 to relieve existing and projected traffic congestion by providing as near to level-of-service (LOS) D as possible or better on Gentile Street; and causes the least impacts to the environment. The project is part of a fiscally constrained long range transportation plan (the WFRC 2007 Urban Area Regional Transportation Plan).

This Record of Decision is issued under the requirements of Chapter 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1502.2 and Chapter 23 CFR 771.127. The information in this Record of Decision is based on information presented in the Layton Interchange Final EIS prepared by FHWA and by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and released for public review from October 10, 2008 to November 10, 2008. The Final EIS and the entire project record are available for review upon request to the FHWA.

A Statute of Limitations Notice on Claims for Judicial Review of Actions by FHWA and Other Federal Agencies for the approval of this project was issued and published in the Federal Register on January 14, 2009. In accordance with 23SC 139(1), any claim seeking judicial review of FHWA actions on this project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before July 13, 2009.

Project Location: The partial South Layton Interchange (Exit 330) and I-15 access from the Layton area west of the Union Pacific Railroad.

Project Background: The population and traffic in this area of Layton has shown rapid growth over the last few years.  According to the US Census Bureau, the census tract population of this area increased by 62 percent between 1990 and 2000.  This growth is continuing, and traffic demand continues to increase on the local street system.  The Union Pacific Railroad is a barrier to emergency vehicles and all other traffic because all street crossing are at grade.

The transportation needs in this area of Layton have been analyzed for the past several years.  An Environmental Assessment was prepared, which included the purpose and need, alternatives, environmental analysis, and identified a preferred alternative.  In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the purpose of an Environmental Assessment is to determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement should be prepared.  Following the circulation of the Environmental Assessment, and a Public Hearing, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) determined there was adequate justification to require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.

Questions? Call Darin Fristrup at (801)620-1689 or Vic Saunders at (801)726-4210.