KAYSVILLE AND FARMINGTON HOMES ARE AT RISK OF BEING DEMOLISHED BY THE UTAH DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has proposed an extension of the existing Legacy Highway that will run north from Farmington to West Point area. The new highway is referred to as the "West Davis Corridor" and may involve destruction of private residences and displacement of families in order to complete the road. This website exists to provide information to citizens and inform them of their rights in an effort to save homes and keep families in place where they live.
UPDATE, Oct 3, 2017: *** IT'S OFFICIAL *** West Davis Corridor has been federally approved and the route and highway are now final and slated for construction. The road WILL BE BUILT starting 2020.
Today UDOT announced that the West Davis Corridor Record of Decision (ROD) has been approved and signed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and is now available electronically on the documentation page of the UDOT study website. The ROD is the final step in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process and represents FHWA’s decision on the Preferred Alternative. It also includes responses to public and agency comments provided on the Final EIS. FHWA approved "Alternative B1 with Wetlands Avoidance Options" as the transportation solution that will best meet the transportation need through 2040 while minimizing impacts to the communities and environment. This Preferred Alternative consists of an alignment along Glovers Lane in the south, Alternative B in Syracuse, and the 4100 West northern option. THIS ESSENTIALLY MEANS THAT AFTER YEARS OF DISCUSSION, PUBLIC INPUT, MANY MEETINGS, MANY STUDIES, PROTESTS, MEDIA COVERAGE AND MANY PEOPLE MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD.... THE HIGHWAY IS NOW "OFFICIALLY" LOCKED IN AND WILL BE CONSTRUCTED. CONSTRUCTION IS TENTATIVELY PLANNED TO BEGIN IN 2020 AND FINISH IN 2022.
YOU CAN VIEW THE FINAL ROUTE OF THE HIGHWAY ON AN INTERACTIVE MAP HERE: https://gatewaymapping.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=aabf15b4314d4efa9969df9f9541ee47
You can access all of UDOT's EIS info, maps of the highway route, and all of their data on the website UDOT set up here: http://www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis/
What does this mean: While UDOT will continue to keep residents informed during the design and construction phases of the highway, at this point the route is final and the federal govt has approved it. That means that the time for public input on those aspects of the highway is now passed and the road IS a reality. Depending on your personal feelings and where you are geographically located, this is either good news or bad news. We will leave those feelings to the public as individuals at this point.
EDITORIAL FROM THE OPERATORS OF THIS WEBSITE: This website has served to make local citizens aware of all that was going on regarding the West Davis Corridor project since its start in 2010. Over the past 7 years, many of you have made your opinions known to UDOT and your voices heard and we commend all who have done so. The official opinion/position of this website throughout this entire process is has been that NO HOMES SHOULD BE DEMOLISHED for the sake of this new highway. When the first route info came down from UDOT years ago, there were nearly 200 homes at risk. You the citizens made your voices heard and you DID make a difference, as this final route now threatens only 34 homes.... which could be considered a success. That being said, the position of this website remains that NO HOMES SHOULD BE DEMOLISHED for the sake of the highway - and we continued to fight for homeowners until the very end.
With that in mind, we feel that the efforts of the public have been a success overall. While we lament the fact that ANY homes will be demolished in the name of a highway, WE SINCERELY THANK ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE MADE YOUR VOICES HEARD AND FOUGHT TO HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS SAVE THEIR HOMES. In our view, that is what community and democracy are all about. We thank you all for your efforts and involvement in sharing your opinions and standing up for what you believe in.
With little else to say at this point, I guess we will see everyone as we drive on the new highway somewhere around 2022. "And thus, it ends....." THANK YOU ALL!
IF YOU STILL WANT TO CONTACT UDOT ABOUT WEST DAVIS CORRIDOR, YOU CAN DO SO USING THE FOLLOWING LINK:
Previous Update from June 2016: UDOT held a resident working group meeting at Endeavor Elementary on May 27th, and here is a summary of where everything stands as of today-
* The "Shared Solution" alternative is officially off the table. UDOT is back to its original option of building the new highway, and is recommending the Glovers Lane route option. You can view an interactive map showing the Glovers Lane and Shepherd Lane routes here: http://www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis/maps
* No Farmington or Kaysville homes are currently at risk if the Glovers Lane option ends up being used. If the Shepherd Lane option were to end up being used, 10 Farmington homes are at risk.
* For those residents living in west Kaysville and Layton, both the Glovers Lane route and Shepherd Lane route has the highway WEST of the power lines once it passes the sewage treatment plant. The road is EAST of the power lines south of the sewage plant, but west of Farmington homes in that area. This is good!
* UDOT is finishing up its FINALIZED EIS (Environmental Impact Survey) and will release it in Spring of 2017. Once they release it, they will have to go back to the Federal Govt and ask for approval of the Glovers Lane route and have the Fed fund the road. When UDOT approached the Fed last time, they were told to look at the Shared Solution alternative, so its anyone's guess as to what the Fed will say next year.
* If by chance the Fed were to approve everything and then all planning, contracting, logistics, etc went "perfectly" UDOT says it would be late 2018 or most likely 2019 before any construction would happen.
* Based on all of the facts and information we have heard, the opinion of this website is that everything is up in the air until the Federal Govt approves and funds the project. Based on how the Fed has handled this and other projects, this whole thing will likely remain in limbo for several more years while UDOT and the Fed go back and forth. (this is our opinion, not a UDOT statement)
Previous Update May 27, 2016: UDOT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE "SHARED SOLUTION" ALTERNATIVE IS OFFICIALLY BEING THROWN OUT AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FURTHER.
The "Shared Solution" is a plan to skip building a new highway and instead work with affected cities and counties to update I-15 and streets/roads that are already in place in those areas in an effort to accomodate more traffic and congestion in the future. As of this week, UDOT is officially saying the Shared Solution idea is officially OFF the table.
In preparation for this open meeting, there are some materials available for review so that those who wish to attend can come prepared with any questions they may have.
UDOT has said that "the West Davis Corridor study team has determined the Shared Solution Alternative – suggested by the Shared Solution Coalition – will not meet the transportation need in the study area, and has therefore been eliminated from further consideration." This will be the main topic of discussion at the meeting next week.
Following is a link to a story map that UDOT created to explain the Shared Solution evaluation process. You can access the story map here: http://arcg.is/1qsaBoq
There are also more in-depth technical memos on the evaluation of the Shared Solution Alternative on the UDOT website. You can find them on the Documentation page under Shared Solution. A link to the documentation page is here: http://www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis/documentation
Stay tuned to this website, as we will continue to provide full details to the public as things develop. This website continues to be an advocate for homeowners and residents to protect their rights to personal property and have their voices heard before UDOT attempts to force anyone to move or demolish a single home in the name of a new road. WHAT IS THE "SHARED SOLUTION" ALTERNATIVE THAT UDOT HAS BEEN ANALYZING? In a nutshell, "Shared Solution" means UDOT basically could elect to give up its fight to make a new freeway and instead opt to work with affected cities and counties and update existing streets/roads instead. Widening of I-15 was in play, as was modification to other existing roads that are already in place. The idea being to update what we already have rather than build a whole new highway.
To view the latest maps and descriptions of the new UDOT "Shared Solution," you can click the following link:
In summary, UDOT spent several years studying everything from wetlands, to environmental impacts, to community impacts and public input, and finally came up with its recommended route for the new highway last year, (the Glovers Lane option) the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (via the EPA) weighed in during UDOT's open commentary period and told UDOT it doesnt like ANY of the options/plans put forward thus far and recommends UDOT go back to the drawing board! Since almost ALL of the new highway funding would come from the Federal Govt, the Fed's input is potentially game changing for UDOT and the entire project. The fact that UDOT is now openly advertising that it is looking into a "shared solution" with local groups and communities seems to be an indication that its original vision and plans for the new highway have now changed and the whole situation is fluid and TBD at this point. The new end result of all this ongoing discussion and analysis could be anything from NO NEW HIGHWAY, to expansion of I-15 and other existing roads, expansion of mass transit, portions of new highway combined with the aforementioned efforts, all of the above, or none of the above. The official position of UDOT right now is that NOTHING IS OFFICIAL and nothing is decided.
Long story short: The endgame of the entire West Davis Corridor project is up in the air at this point and much remains to be decided. We at this website continue to encourage the public to stay informed and make your voice heard - to protect your homes, rights, and community as the project moves forward. NOTHING is for certain at this point.
UPDATE FROM SEPT 21, 2013: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a highly detailed, 16 page commentary on the West Davis Corridor project, and asked UDOT to consider moving the highway AWAY from ALL the west wetlands and birds and consider "other alternatives" such as upgrading existing roads and mass transit INSTEAD of building the new highway anywhere that will touch wetlands at all. The EPA comments focus solely on land, water, and birds - with little to NO mention of impact on people and residents of the area! The EPA comments imply that UDOT needs to go back to the drawing board and re-think ALL 8 OF ITS ROUTE ALTERNATIVES. Since almost ALL OF THE FUNDING for the highway will come from federal money, this is big news.
This EPA Commentary is a SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT, since the funding for the highway would come mostly from Federal resources and the Fed is submitting these comments. However, its hard to say how exactly a commentary from the EPA will affect the ultimate plans or result of the highway at this point. UDOT has not had a lot to say about this new development, other than it is considering the EPA's comments and will address each one. We are in the very early stages on this new development so its difficult to say what this means until further info comes out. We will keep the public posted as more news becomes available on this matter.
UDOT releases its route choice - May 2013: Today UDOT released the completed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS is essentially a large compilation of wetlands study data, information on different highway route alternatives, and other input and analysis compiled by UDOT over the past three plus years.
MORE SIGNIFCANTLY, UDOT has now made known its "recommendation" on which route it is going to recommend. UDOT is recommending Alternative B1 as the locally preferred alternative. B1 consists of the Glovers Lane option in Farmington, Alternative B in Syracuse, and the 4100 West northern option. You can see a map of this UDOT-recommended alternative here: http://www.langdongroupinc.com/WDCDEIS/
Now that the EIS is released, it will undergo a period of public review from now until August 23rd. We recommend you email UDOT any and all comments you have about the EIS, which you can send to them at: [email protected] A Final EIS is expected to be released later this year, with a Record of Decision expected in spring 2014.
VIEW OUR MOVIE: "We're Comin' THRU Your Home!!!" - Dedicated to the logic of UDOT This movie was made in conjunction with the fine residents of Wellington Street and gives a look at what life would be like if we all used UDOT's logic: If you need to get somewhere, JUST GO THRU SOMEONE'S HOME!!!! In an age where UDOT places higher value on bugs and dirt than it does on families, lives, and neighborhoods, we think this film is appropriate in showing how that point of view is out of touch with UDOT's mission to "serve the people" of Utah. (clearly there are options to build the road without destroying lives in the process...) Please enjoy the movie and feel free to share it with others if you like it. Its posted on our link in the upper left, or you can also view it on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ohrIxhLYFg
Be sure to JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST by clicking on the link in the upper left. If you want to get email updates on whats going on, this is one of the best ways to stay in the loop!
This Website exists to BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER to fight against the UDOT proposal that involves demolition of residential homes in the West Kaysville area rather than moving the highway TO THE WEST OF THE POWERLINES as was previously communicated by UDOT. If we join voices and unite as one, we WILL preserve our rights and protect our homes.
CALL TO ACTION!!! One of the many benefits of living in this great country is the freedom of speech. If you have an opinion on this issue, we highly encourage you to contact both UDOT as well as your local city government officials and make your voice heard. We have seen many positive developments in this whole West Davis Corridor issue over the past few years, and most of those were a direct results of residents making their voices heard.
We encourage you to use the freedom of speech that you are afforded by living here. Make your voice heard if you have an opinion on this issue!
IF YOU HAVE VALUABLE INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO US AT: [email protected]