Farmington Citizens

This letter is from David Stringfellow a farmingtoncitizens.org subcriber and is in response to the resent post advocating the C-1 alighment. David opposes the C-1 alignment and favors the existing south and westerly alignment as indicated in the Farmington City Master Transporation plan. Any other thoughtful opinions on the West Davis Corridor alignments are welcomed and may be posted.

Farmington Citizens,

Many have advocated recently for a C-1 West Davis Corridor option. It is proposed that we can efficiently join 4 major transportation hubs in a very small area. Some readers may have experience driving in other states or countries, those places I have driven that attempt this kind of 'flexibility' often end up in traffic jams for hours. I think transportation engineers should be a bit more humble and recognize the physical limitation some spaces impose.

Most Farmington residents will not be using whatever highway ends up being built on the West Davis Corridor. This road will primarily be a way of getting future west-side commuters of northern Davis, Weber, and Ogden Counties to and from Salt Lake County.  I believe the highway should be as initially envisaged, a complete west side highway stretching from Ogden to Salt Lake City.  This corridor should link to the now existing Legacy Highway, and only the Legacy Highway. This will keep most commuters on the west side transportation route until they get to Salt Lake County, instead of having them flood the very same routes we are trying to access. By connecting only with the Legacy Highway; it will help ensure that the capacity on Legacy Highway is actually used and leave the rest of us with a more efficient (ie, less crowded) route to transport ourselves south.

Some have raised objections that a western alignment would damage the environment. While some areas may be unavoidably impacted, the same is true in cutting across the E-1 designated corridor as wetlands are also present through this corridor. Additionally, it is my belief that a western most alignment would demarcate an impassable barrier beyond which future development could not encroach. Without a western aligned road, the pressures of development accompanying a doubling of the population along the Wasatch Front would slowly and persistently encroach on the wetlands. By adopting a western alignment that is sensitive to wetlands, while avoiding existing housing communities to the greatest degree possible, the physical boundaries of Farmington will be unalterably set. Over the next 50 years, we would work together to shape and fully build out the great city I've called home for over 20 years.

Unfortunately, whatever alignment is adopted will impact some homes.  Whether it be a handful of homes near Glovers Lane, the unfortunate loss of the Buffalo Ranch, or plowing through two neighborhoods straddling the Kaysville/Farmington border, some homes will be lost.  We can imagine that in a world without resource constraints, our government may be persuaded to tunnel under neighborhoods or build elevated highways.  As far as dreams go, maybe we could ask them to build the highway on Antelope Island instead.  But we live in a world with resource constraints; false hope among our community in which everyone's home is unscathed borders on delusion when confronted with the current facts.  Our community has a difficult and uncomfortable decision to make. Our city leaders have lead the way in making this decision by in reviewing the evidence, the facts, the transportation models, and available alternatives. A cursory look at the map will reveal why Farmington City altered the Master Transportation Plan to prefer a western/southern boundary preference for the West Davis Corridor. If the decision is between putting the corridor between 2 beautifully planned, dense neighborhoods among 235 homes, flanked by 2 LDS churches OR placing it as far to the west and south as possible while minimizing the number of impacted homes; which course would you choose?

I support Farmington's decision because it is what is best for the city. It is the best option for most of it's residents. The decision underwent months of hearings, study, a lot of expense in hiring a professional transportation planner, and our own communities input. I encourage the support of the western/southern alignment for the West Davis Corridor and would encourage all to express this same opinion to UDOT.

boldly,
David Stringfellow

Update: Link to Deseret News article added (5/14/2010)

UDOT Published on Friday (May 7, 2010) its draft Purpose and Need document. To summarize UDOT want to "improve mobility" in west Davis and Weber. All options are still on the table (roads and transit) at this point. One of those options is the continuation of Legacy to the north. Now until June 7th is a new phase for public comment. 

Summary:
http://www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis/files/WDC_Get_Involved%20page_DRAFT_Purpose_and_Need_Summary.pdf

Full Content:
http://www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis/files/WDC_Get_Involved_page_DRAFT_Purpose_and_Need_Full_Content.pdf

UDOT is accepting comments on the draft purpose and need until June 7th. Please go to UDOT's website to comment:
http://www.udot.utah.gov/westdavis/get_involved

Media articles and commentary:
http://www.standard.net/topics/opinion/2010/05/12/our-view-legacy-extension-needed
http://www.standard.net/topics/construction/2010/05/11/udot-proposes-corridor-ease-transportation-issues
http://www.standard.net/topics/udot/2010/05/07/udot-says-legacy-extension-needed
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700032244/UDOT-study-Without-help-Davis-and-Weber-will-suffer-from-congestion.html

Congratulations to Jim Talbot and John Bilton for winning the 2009 Farmington City Council General Election. Here are the election results results:

Mayor:
Scott Harbertson - 1,154

City Council (2 seats):
Jim Talbot - 1,379
John S. Bilton - 1,194
Anita Todd - 868
D. Kevin Poff - 664

Bond Election:
FOR - 8709 (60.86%)
AGAINST - 5602 (39.14%)

Deseret News Article
Davis County Clerk

Primary Election results for Farmington City Council. The top four move on to the General Election contest in November. (Source Deseret News)

x-Jim Talbot, 804

x-John S. Bilton, 778

x- Anita Todd, 420

x-D. Kevin Poff, 217

Carson Howell, 189 

Nelsen Michaelson, 184

Preston Child, 118

David Eric Hale 80

Justin LeCheminant, 44