Public comments needed on Northern Corridor highway
My last two articles for The Independent have dealt with current efforts to move the Northern Corridor highway approval process along and the Habitat Conservation Plan renewal process. Both of these issues deserve public involvement, and the opportunity to comment is now here.
According to a notice issued Dec. 3, “The public is invited to a meeting from 4:30–7:30 p.m., Dec. 17, at the Dixie Convention Center, 1835 Convention Center Drive, St. George, 84790, to provide the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) comments on multiple projects in Washington County.” At the meeting, citizens will learn about development of a draft environmental impact statement pertaining to the Northern Corridor and the issuance of an incidental take permit for the Mojave desert tortoise to Washington County, along with potential associated actions.
The 30-day scoping period officially began Dec. 5 when the notice of intent was published in the Federal Register. So, very inconveniently, the Dec. 17 meeting is not even at the start of the abbreviated comment period on this complex topic. Unfortunately, it also falls during the holiday season, when most will be focused on family matters.
It’s regrettable that the county and involved agencies have decided to do it this way. They have been working on this process since 2015, and now, all of a sudden, there is a rush to get it moving? What an insult this is to the public process! That said, it’s critical that citizens comment on this important matter.
Although not the only focus of the comment period, the proposed Northern Corridor through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and Desert Reserve is a driving force. It would severely damage the NCA and reserve, negatively impact the public’s experience on these lands, threaten cultural sites, and set a dangerous precedent for national conservation lands elsewhere in Utah and throughout the country.
The many reasons why a highway through the Red Cliffs NCA and Desert Reserve is a bad idea are important and worth commenting on by the public, but focusing on the problems will not solve the transportation challenges that face us. What are needed are ideas to manage the problem. Alternative transportation ideas have been suggested by Conserve Southwest Utah for consideration by the county, the BLM, and the USFWS, and citizens should consider including these in their comments:
Red Hills Parkway to I-15 Fly-Overs or Viaducts
Red Hills Parkway and Buena Vista Blvd. Improvements between I-15 exits 8 and 13
—Widen to 4–6 lanes (and straighten where possible) throughout entire length (Bluff Street/SR 18 to Exit 13), starting with the eastern portion.
—For busy Red Hills Parkway intersections (1000 E, Green Springs, 900 E), add tunnels and/or flyovers for left turns and dedicated lanes for right turns (could consider traffic circles as an initial phase).
—For less busy, but still problem intersections, add traffic circles.
—Block access from minor roads that have other access points.
One-way synchronized (timed traffic lights) loop in downtown St. George using St. George Boulevard and Tabernacle Street
Underpasses beneath I-15 at 2450 East (or optionally at East Ridge) and 400 E
Transit Systems to relieve commuter and business congestion
—Circulator trolleys: Dixie Regional Medical Center Route and Main Street/400 S Route.
—Expanded east-west bus service and routes with decreased wait intervals during prime commuting hours.
Implementation of Vision Dixie Smart Growth Principles that focus growth in walkable centers, build balanced transportation, and guard signature scenic landscapes such as Red Cliffs NCA
Conserve Southwest Utah acknowledges that it does not comprise traffic experts but feels that UDOT and local planners have not fairly considered alternatives that would allow the county and agencies to honor past agreements to preserve the Red Cliffs area. Planners acknowledge that the Red Hills Parkway flyover idea was eliminated because it won’t help by 2025 but acknowledge that it would be useful by 2040, if the Northern Corridor highway is not built. It would be much cheaper than the $150 million Northern Corridor. What else are they ignoring in their effort to secure the Northern Corridor?
I encourage citizens to go to conserveswu.org/scoping for help with scoping comments. For more details on how to engage during the scoping process, go to the BLM E-planning Portal using this link: eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do?methodName=renderDefaultPlanOrProjectSite&projectId=1502103&dctmId=0b0003e8814ff789.
The viewpoints expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Independent.
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