I am pleased to have been named to the “President’s Picks” list of candidates by Orem’s South West Alliance president David Washburn.

In the document, Southwest Alliance President David Washburn tells how he puts the following question to the candidates:

“On the evening of May 22, 2008 the Southwest Alliance hosted a Residential Traffic Forum inviting the residents of 1,800 homes surrounding the campus of Utah Valley University to attend and participate in the Forum and the Traffic Survey. On October 18, 2008 the results of the survey responses were published. The top priorities listed by the participants in the Southwest Alliance’s Traffic Survey were:

a. Preservation of the neighborhoods surrounding the campus of Utah Valley University.
b. Eliminating university-generated traffic in the neighborhoods surrounding the campus of Utah Valley University.
c. Providing adequate roadway connections between the U.V.U. campus and arterial roadways which do not pass through residential neighborhoods.

As a candidate, what is your plan for addressing and resolving these issues?”

My response to his question (cited in its entirety in the document) was as follows:

“Traffic patterns in Orem are important to me. Many of the proposals for the current traffic flow caused by UVU growth (enrollment up 10% this fall to approximately 28,000 to 30,000 students and projected to be 40,000 within 10 years) will increase traffic in the UVU area. I would not favor a proposal to increase traffic flow along 800 South, 1200 South, 400 South, 800 West or 1200 West. You could close UVU Campus exits leading to 400 West with new engineering and design of I-15 and UVU Campus. I would not support any direct access to I-15 or an overpass on any of these streets. Provo City’s Master Transportation Plan calls for increased traffic to our neighborhoods at approximately 2000 South. A possible Provo Interchange close to this location could help traffic flow, but I will not support a plan to increase traffic flow in southwest Orem neighborhoods.

Peak time for UVU traffic is from 7:30-8:30 am, but student and traffic is leaving UVU Campus throughout the day. UVU is in an expansion phase, and a multi-level student and employee parking terrace needs to be discussed in addition to the present parking. Constructing this terrace on UVU’s campus with direct access to I-15 and University Parkway would encourage students and faculty from surrounding communities to use I-15 instead of neighborhood streets.

Some of the ideas I think could be considered are:

• Existing roads on campus could be expanded to accommodate peak time traffic. One or two lanes from UVU to I-15 North and South could be designated UVU campus lanes during peak travel time. Approximately 68% of UVU Students are from Utah County, the majority of them do not live in Orem, and 8 out of 10 vehicles coming to UVU carry only one person. A fast track lane off I-15 during the peak travel time to UVU parking with two or more persons in a car would encourage less traffic, leading students and employees directly into and out of UVU parking, and traffic flow would be decreased east and north of the campus. This could also help traffic flow for UVU students and faculty traveling from north of campus living in Orem by traveling on I-15 from Orem Center Street and 800 &1600 North interchanges.

• A UVU parking terrace could also accommodate UTA Transit Center and route bus traffic to I-15 or east on University Parkway, eliminating additional bus stops in neighborhoods. University Parkway needs to accommodate additional auto and bus traffic. From the UVU Transit Center pickup point, UTA could pick up patrons traveling to University Mall or continuing east to University Avenue and Provo. This could result in expansion of University Parkway. A light rail transit system or a designated bus lane along University Parkway could also be a possibility.

A light rail transit system is proposed for the UVU area. When constructed, it should be parallel (west) of I-15 with a Transit Center close to UVU Campus, and it will have transfers to UVU, University Mall and University Avenue via University Parkway. According to what I have researched, the light rail will have little affect on neighborhoods located west of I-15.”

CLICK HERE to download a copy of the entire President’s Picks document.