HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS NEWSLETTER INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 
  • WFRC Releases its Activities and Accomplishments Report and Adopts Goals for the Coming Year
  • Salt Lake Tribune Op-ed: Wasatch Choice 2050 is a Blueprint for How Utah Will Grow
  • WFRC Hosts Officials from Uganda and Shares Knowledge Regarding Air Quality
  • Register Now: Families for Rooftops, a Jordan River Family Cycling Event
  • Save the Dates: Growth Summit Series
  • Workshop: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure for Your Community
  • Move Utah Summit Announces its Keynote Speaker
  • Register Now: The Hidden Costs of Free Parking
FISCAL YEAR 2018
WFRC Releases its Activities and Accomplishments Report and Adopts Goals for the Coming Year

Transportation planning in the region is a cooperative effort of local and state agencies. As the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Wasatch Front, the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) is responsible for coordinating this transportation planning process. WFRC achieved several important milestones during fiscal year 2018 and accomplished the goals and priorities adopted by the Council. To learn more about WFRC's activities and accomplishments, please view the full report.

Additionally, the Council recently adopted the following three goals, which will serve as WFRC's focus during fiscal year 2019.

Goal Number One
Collaboratively develop and implement the Wasatch Choice 2050 Vision for regional transportation, land use, and economic development.

Goal Number Two
Advance transportation, land use, and economic development policy-making and projects.

Goal Number Three
Strive for organizational excellence.

The staff at WFRC appreciate the opportunity to work with its members, collaborate
with its partners, assist local communities, and ultimately contribute to a high-quality
of life for residents living throughout the Wasatch Front region. WFRC looks forward to another successful year and thanks you for your commitment and dedication to the region.
SALT LAKE TRIBUNE OP-ED
Wasatch Choice 2050 is a Blueprint for How Utah Will Grow

You’ve likely heard that Utah is growing. What you may not have heard is how much and how fast.

According to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, we will add 1.5 million people to the Wasatch Front by 2050. That’s 45,000 people each year, or roughly the equivalent of adding a Draper- or Bountiful-sized city to our region annually!

That growth creates many opportunities, but it also brings challenges...
INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
WFRC Hosts Officials from Uganda and Shares Knowledge Regarding Air Quality

WFRC was recently honored to host 12 officials from Uganda as part of the US Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program, a premier professional exchange program. Uganda is a growing central African country that experiences poor air quality due to an increase in vehicle traffic, a very old fleet of vehicles, and prolific open burning of agricultural waste and trash. The majority of vehicles in Uganda are at least 15-years old and open fires are often the only method to cook food and dispose of waste.

In an effort to share knowledge regarding Utah's approach to improve air quality, WFRC staff provided two presentations to the Ugandan officials. Representatives included medical professionals; meteorologists, computer and environmental scientists; roadway and traffic engineers; and communications, planning, and sanitation experts.

Ned Hacker, Director of Operations and Special Projects, delivered a presentation regarding WFRC's work as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Wasatch Front region, Utah's Unified Transportation Plan, and examples of collaboration with multiple agencies to achieve mutual goals. Kip Billings, Senior Transportation Engineer and Air Quality Analyst, gave a presentation regarding Utah's air quality plans and controls, as well as described how WFRC's transportation plans support Utah's air quality plans.

WFRC was privileged to host the Ugandan delegation and looks forward to future knowledge sharing opportunities.
GET INTO THE RIVER FESTIVAL
Register Now: Families for Rooftops, a Jordan River Family Cycling Event

Be a part of this fun-filled family cycling event (all ages and abilities) to raise funds to benefit  Family Promise Salt Lake, a nonprofit organization who helps families experiencing homelessness achieve lasting self-sufficiency. Ninety-one percent of the families helped by the program maintain sustainable lifestyles and are free of homelessness. This event is part of the  Get into the River Festival, which brings together the community, businesses, and local governments to celebrate, restore, explore, and recreate on the Jordan River corridor.

Cycling events will take place throughout the day and include a 50-, 25-, and 10-mile ride. All rides are scheduled to return at approximately 3:00 pm and enter RiverFest 2018. Additionally, there will be drawings for great prices with your donation, as well as silent auction items.

Date
Saturday, September 15, 2018

Start Times (Suggested Donation) and Registration
To register, click on the links below or text "CYCLINGSL" to 41444. Please note that check in is 30-minutes prior to each ride.

Place
International Peace Gardens,  1040 South 900 West, Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL
Save the Dates: Growth Summit Series

The Salt Lake County Council is hosting a Growth Summit Series through the end of October to gather factual information from experts in our community regarding transportation, water, power, sewer, air quality, and schools, as they relate to population growth in Salt Lake County. At the weekly Council meeting, the Council members listen to infrastructure and planning entities to gain their perspectives regarding growth projections and coping plans. The objective is to inform and educate the Council, staff, and other Salt Lake County departments by answering important questions. Residents are URGED to attend these presentations, listen real time via Livestream, or listen at a later time by accessing the Council website. Audio of and PowerPoint slides from each presentation, along with a complete schedule, are available on the Council website. You can also follow the Salt Lake County Council’s Growth Summit Facebook page.

Dates
Tuesdays through the end of October

Time
4:00 pm

Place
Salt Lake County Council Chambers, 2001 South State Street, N1-100, Salt Lake City

Upcoming Presentations
  • September 11: Thom Carter, Executive Director, UCAIR
  • September 18: Matt Sibul, Director of Government Relations, UTA
  • September 25: Craig White, General Manager, South Valley Sewer District

Past Presentations
  • Population Growth Primer | The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
  • The Housing Gap | Housing Gap Coalition
  • Wasatch Choice 2050 Regional Vision | WFRC
  • Water Planning | Prepare 60
  • UDOT Overview | UDOT
  • Rocky Mountain Power
SALT LAKE CITY SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT
Workshop: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure for Your Community

Please join the Salt Lake City Sustainability Department at a workshop to explore ways that cities, towns, and counties can leverage local financial incentives to drive investment in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

Electrified transportation is emerging as a promising solution to air quality challenges, but additional infrastructure is needed to maximize the potential of EVs. A variety of incentives now exist in Utah to support the installation of charging stations for your employees, government fleets, and communities.

At this workshop you will learn how to evaluate new locations for EV charging stations, including estimating upfront and ongoing costs, plus end use potential. The workshop will also describe how to access two distinct funding sources, offered by Rocky Mountain Power and the Utah Division of Air Quality, to help cover project costs.

Workshop content will be relevant to a diverse range of local government leaders. City managers, budgeting and finance, fleet management, planning, elected officials, and other staff are welcome to join. Please register by September 13, 2018.

Date
Thursday, September 20, 2018

Time
Workshop: 9:00 - 10:30 am; optional networking: 10:30 - 11:00 am

Place
Utah Division of Air Quality Offices, 195 North 1950 West, DEQ Board Room 1015 (on the main floor), Salt Lake City
ACTIVE, HEALTHY, CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
Move Utah Summit Announces its Keynote Speaker

The Move Utah Summit will focus on how to build active, healthy, connected communities through the integration of transportation, land use, and health considerations. How our communities are built has a direct impact on our health and how we get around. The summit will provide unique opportunities for attendees to learn what they can do to make a difference. It will bring together key decision makers in Utah’s transportation and health industries, including local and state elected officials and staff, industry experts, business leaders, and community advocates.

Tyler Norris, Chief Executive Officer, Well Being Trust, will be the first annual Move Utah Summit's keynote speaker. Tyler has shaped health and development initiatives in hundreds of communities around the world for the past thirty years. He has an extensive background in working to improve health outcomes as a social entrepreneur and trusted advisor to philanthropies, health systems, government agencies, and collaborative partnerships.

As a collaborative partnership with WFRC, UDOT, UTA, Mountainland Association of Governments, Utah Department of Health, and Get Healthy Utah, this is an event you won’t want to miss! The Move Utah Summit is being held in conjunction with the Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS) Northwest Region Conference.

Date
Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Time
7:30 am - 4:00 pm

Place
Little America Hotel, 500 Main Street, Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION
Register Now: The Hidden Costs of Free Parking

Parking can consume up to 30% of a city's land. Salt Lake County Regional Planning and Transportation, in coordination with WFRC and other partners, hosts Distinguished Professor Donald Shoup, who explores creative ways in which changes to parking policy and building development can make better use of precious land.

With Utah on the verge of significantly increasing its population, changes to current parking policies could help alleviate issues related to clean air and housing affordability. They may also provide a more fiscal approach to land use; resulting in more desirable and walkable urban and suburban neighborhoods.

The time to act is now. Elected officials, real estate developers, engineers, city managers, and financial institutions are well positioned to make significant changes to the character of the Wasatch Front.

Date
Thursday, October 4, 2018

Time
11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Place
The Library's Viridian Event Center, 8030 South 1825 West, West Jordan