FHWA 18-08
Contact: Doug Hecox, Tel.: (202) 366-0660
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
U.S. Department of Transportation Approves Utah’s I-15 Corridor
WASHINGTON – Utah’s plans to build the I-15 Corridor in Utah County can now move
forward, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced today.
Last Friday, Federal Highway Administration officials signed a "Record of
Decision" (ROD) – a document representing the final clearance of the project's
exhaustive environmental review – giving the state clearance to begin
right-of-way acquisition, design and construction.
"This marks a major milestone for the region’s thousands of drivers anxious for
relief from traffic tie-ups," said Secretary Peters.
The project, part of an 840-mile route connecting San Diego, Calif., to Salt
Lake City that was chosen last year as one of six “Corridors of the Future” by
the U.S. DOT has long been a priority of the Federal Highway Administration and
the Utah Department of Transportation.
“Residents of growing communities in Utah and southern Salt Lake counties are
eager for more transportation capacity to ease trips to and from work, school
and home. Among the several projects to add roadway and transit options for
travelers in the region, this I-15 expansion is critical. It’s good to see the
effort moving along,” said U.S Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).
“Today’s announcement is a tremendous step toward meeting Utah’s transportation
challenges. As many Utah counties experience growing pains, transit projects,
such as the completion of the I-15 corridor, will help ease traffic congestion
on roads and improve the safety of motorists. I applaud DOT for recognizing the
critical transportation needs of our state,” said U.S. Senator Bob Bennett
(R-Utah).
While the environmental review process for a project this size typically takes
seven to eight years, the review for this project was completed in less than
four, the Secretary noted. The project's current environmental review began with
the publication of its "notice of intent" in the Federal Register on Sept. 2,
2004.
"The savings in time achieved on this project so far underscores the benefits of
the President’s environmental streamlining process," said FHWA Administrator Tom
Madison. "The real beneficiaries of this improvement are the thousands of
drivers who will see relief from traffic congestion sooner rather than later."
The I-15 project, which includes widening and reconstruction of 43 miles of
highway with 22 interchanges, extends north from the South Payson interchange in
Utah County to 123rd South Interchange in Salt Lake County. When completed, the
project will relieve area traffic congestion and improve safety. A locally
funded commuter rail project is already under way to complement the congestion
relief this project will bring to the Utah County corridor.
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