Background
There have been a number of major planning and transportation studies
of the Nebo region including:
Nebo Community Vision (2001)
Nebo Quadrant Study (2006)
Transit Vision (2006)
MAG Regional Transportation Plan (2007)
I-15 Corridor EIS (2008)
MAG Individual City Meetings (2007-8)
The Nebo Quadrant Study identified a plan for the future transportation
system of the area addressing issues such as connectivity to north
communities, preservation of small town main streets, alternate modes
of transportation, planning for trails and access across Utah Lake. The
study conceptually identified a number of high speed expressways,
freeway standard belt routes, and other limited access highways. The
Provo to Nebo Corridor Study carries forward the analysis of these
"vision projects" by communities in this area.
Past and Future Trends
The Nebo area has experienced tremendous population growth in recent
years and like many bedroom communities has substantially greater
population than employment. The region is rich with natural and
community resources such as farms and open spaces, sensitive biological
resources, water resources including Utah Lake and Main Streets in
smaller communities.
The Nebo Area is projected to continue to experience substantial
population growth reaching a population of around 300,000 by 2040.
While the proportion of employment is projected to increase somewhat,
residential uses will continue to drive development patterns in the
area in the coming decades. Additional community facilities including
hospitals, schools, religious facilities, and sports, arts/culture and
entertainment centers will develop to serve the growing population.
Planning for Regional
Transportation Needs
Substantial increases in traffic congestion are also projected in the
Nebo Area and additional transportation facilities will be needed to
serve the growing demand. The Provo to Nebo study evaluated
specific corridor alignments for major corridors identified in
the Regional Transportation Plan as Future Vision Projects connecting
the city of Provo in the north and traversing south to the city of
Payson. These corridors have evolved through the corridor study and are
currently the West Connector, the Spanish Fork Connector and the South Connector.
Click here for the Study Area Map.
The Provo to Nebo study team has reviewed existing transportation and
environmental data, refined and coordinated population and socioeconomic
forecasts, prepared updated forecasts for future travel demand in
the corridors, and developed possible alignments within the corridors.
The project team has been meeting with Nebo Area communities
during the study to coordinate socioeconomic and development assumptions and
forecasts and to clearly communicate future transportation needs with each
growing community. The study has considered environmental impacts (natural,
cultural, etc) and social and community needs, as well as transportation
engineering criteria.
|
"Provide an integrated intermodal transportation
system that facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods
while retaining the unique western character of this Wasatch
Mountain/Great Basin environment."
- Mountainland MPO Regional Transportation Plan Vision Statement
2007-2030
|
