June 11, 2013
The Salt Lake Tribune
By Pamela Manson
Farmington • Davis County commissioners said at a Tuesday meeting that they support the process the Utah Department of Transportation used to select the preferred route for the new West Davis Corridor freeway, which included gathering public comment at open houses and via email.
Commissioner P. Bret Milburn said the three-member body is not taking sides on which proposed route is better for the corridor but is supporting the way UDOT went about making its route proposal.
Commission Chair John Petroff Jr. said that UDOT put thousands of hours in choosing a preferred route and did a “tremendous job.” The new freeway is “absolutely necessary” for the county to grow, he said.
But Carl Ingwell, founder of Governor, We Cannot Breathe, a clean air group, encouraged the commissioners to instead support improving existing roads and mass transit to handle area transportation needs.
UDOT, which has said it studied 46 early alternatives during the review process, hopes to make a final decision on routing next year
The agency has scheduled three public hearings this week on its West Davis Corridor proposal. Each will have an open house beginning at 4 p.m., with a formal public hearing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.:
Tuesday » Legacy Events Center, 151 S. 110 West, Farmington. Opponents of the freeway say they will be there to demonstrate against UDOT’s plan.
Wednesday » West Point Junior High, 277 W. 550 North, West Point.
Thursday » Freedom Elementary, 4555 W. 5500 South, Hooper.