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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, January 17-19, 2018 The Park Record County Seat COUNTY EDITOR: ANGELIQUE McNAUGHTON 649–9014 EXT. 112 | Countynews@parkrecord.com County puts a new plan into motion Proposal will focus on modes such as biking and walking ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON The Park Record Summit County has begun the process of creating an active transportation plan as part of its ongoing effort to “up its game” when it comes to offering residents and visitors alternative ways to travel, according to Caroline Rodriguez, Summit County’s regional transportation planning director. The county kicked off the process with stakeholders on Jan. 11 during an event at the Park City Hospital’s Blair Education Center. Nearly 20 people attended, with many providing suggestions for destinations and opportunities to create better travel networks throughout the community. “That will help guide our goals and objectives for the plan,” Rodriguez said. “It is an initial identification for how the plan will go, including what the needs and barriers are and what people are thinking.” The county has been dedicating more resources to identifying alternative modes of transportation over the last couple of years, including a study focused on the S.R. 224 corridor. But, the new plan will be specifically focused on travel methods such as biking and walking rather than automotive transit. The vision of the plan states the county will “develop a net- work of comfortable bicycling and walking routes that facilitate transportation and recreation for residents and visitors alike.” “Summit County will improve quality of life and collective health by creating and promoting an integrated bikeway, sidewalk and trail system for transportation and recreation that will connect neighborhoods, places of work and commercial centers,” the plan states. County staffers explored potential destinations for travelers and barriers the county may face in trying to establish a more robust network of trails and bikes paths with those who attended the kick-off event on Thursday. Some of the destinations that were identified as needing better connections or trails were in the Kamas Valley, and along S.R. 248 and S.R. 224. One of the barriers identified for the S.R. 248 and Jordanelle Parkway area is the fact the site is located in Wasatch County. Those in attendance were also asked to help identify the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities the county may face as it moves forward with an active transportation plan. The strengths that were outlined included the county already having an existing transportation network, opportunity corridors and dedicated funding. Some of the weaknesses that could affect implementation of a plan were: geography, climate, safety, lack of infrastructure, overbuilding of roads and the auto-oriented mindset of the community. More input from the public will be solicited over the next ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON/PARK RECORD Caroline Rodriguez, Summit County’s regional transportation planning director, writes down suggestions from those in attendance at the unveiling of the county’s new active transportation plan. year as the plan is crafted. Rodriguez said the plan is being created, in part, because the Utah Department of Transportation notified the county it needed to create a locally developed plan before any funding would be earmarked for a project. “The county has sort of had the financial burden for providing that sort of infrastructure, including bike lanes,” Rodriguez said. “UDOT would include it when they could, but that has not been their mission or focus. But, they are evolving and understanding it is not all about cars and pavement. So we have sort of progressed together in our partnership and that is where we are at today.” For more information about upcoming events regarding the county’s active transportation plan, email Caroline Rodriguez at crodriguez@summitcounty.org. Premiere lot open for Sundance Space located near Kimball Junction Transit Center ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON The Park Record As Sundance Film Festival movie-goers consider ways to avoid traffic over the next 10 days, Caroline Rodriguez, Summit County’s transportation planning director, is hoping the public uses the free parking in the Kimball Junction area before taking the Electric Express buses into town. “The parking lot at Sheldon Richins is our biggest contribution,” she said. “People have said they would ride the Express to the festival, but there is nowhere to park. Now there is.” Summit County’s Public Works Department paved the open space south of the Sheldon Richins Building and adjacent to the transit center in November to create 38 new parking spaces for commuters. This year, the county is taking less of an active role in addressing the festival’s impact on traffic in the Basin, particularly in Kimball Junction, where several screenings are held. In addition to screenings at Redstone, Temple Har Shalom along S.R. 224 will also host several Sundance screenings. Sundance Institute is once again offering shuttle services between theaters for screenings. But, no additional transit routes are scheduled to be offered. The county does not restrict parking in Kimball Junction. But, Rodriguez said she doesn’t condone parking in private lots. She added, “There are no restrictions at the Sheldon Richins Building for late-night parking.” The Electric Express will continue to operate as normal during the festival, with buses running every 10 minutes between the Kimball Junction Transit Center and Old Town. The service is offered seven days a week between 7 a.m. and midnight. Stops are scheduled along S.R. 224 at Canyons Transit Center at Park City Mountain Resort, Fresh Market and the Old Town Transit Center. While Newpark Resort and Hotel has in the past offered 25 spaces on the south side of the resort parking lot for taxi, Uber and Lyft drivers, it will not be using the area again this year. “Newpark had provided the free staging area with a restroom and trash cans, but it wasn’t utilized and those drivers were driving around so we are not going to do it this year,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said she anticipates Kimball Junction will be more crowded this year than in the past because of Park City’s new paid-parking system. “I’m guessing people are going to notice it’s harder to drive in the Junction because those who are not wanting to park in town will be looking for free spaces and then riding transit in,” she said. “Luckily, there will be some spaces available so that is an option.” Rodriguez encouraged festival attendees to download Park City Transit’s application and sign up for text alerts. The Sundance Film Festival begins on Thursday and continues through Sunday, Jan. 28. For more information about the festival shuttle, go to http:// www.sundance.org/festivals/sundance-film-festival/attend. A-3 Public Comment Opportunity Jan. 18 - Feb. 20, 2018 Public Comment Opportunity The U.S. Air Force is accepting comments from the public on an Jan.to18 - Feb. 20,parcel 2018 environmental assessment of a proposal exchange a land in Summit County, Utah, owned by the Air Force, for an equally-valued parcel in Wasatch Utah.comments from the public on an The U.S. Air ForceCounty, is accepting environmental assessment of a proposal to exchange a land parcel in If completed, theUtah, land exchange between theequally-valued Air Force and Summit County, owned by would the Airbe Force, for an Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority. The proposed land parcel in Wasatch County, Utah. exchange would potentially provide access to a planned adjacent private recreation facility that would alsobeoffer discounted forand If completed, the land exchange would between the Airrates Force militaryMilitary personnel, Department of Defense civilian The employees, and Utah’s Installation Development Authority. proposed land military retirees. exchange would potentially provide access to a planned adjacent private recreation facility that would also offer discounted rates for Based on the results of the environmental the proposed military personnel, Department of Defenseassessment, civilian employees, and action would not have significant impacts on the human environment or military retirees. any of the environmental resources described in the document. The U.S. AironForce, therefore, a Finding of No Significant Based the results of the proposes environmental assessment, the proposed Impactwould for the actionimpacts and hason determined action notproposed have significant the human an environment or environmental impact statement unnecessary. any of the environmental resourcesis described in the document. The U.S. Air Force, therefore, proposes a Finding of No Significant Public comments will be accepted through 20, 2018. Impact for the proposed action and has Feb. determined an To obtain a copy of the document, to submit is comments on the document, please environmental impactorstatement unnecessary. contact: Public comments will be accepted through Feb. 20, 2018. To obtain a Sam copy Johnson of the document, or to submit comments on the document, please 75 CEG/CEIEA contact: 7290 Weiner St., Bldg. 383 Hill AFB UT 84056-5003 Sam Johnson (801) 775-3653 75 CEG/CEIEA samuel.johnson.5@us.af.mil 7290 Weiner St., Bldg. 383 Hill AFB UT 84056-5003 (801) 775-3653 samuel.johnson.5@us.af.mil Connect, Eat & Play at the Sunset Room Board Game Cafe Great Food Hot Drinks Cold Brews Vibrant Music High Speed Internet Mon–Fri (3–5pm) After-School Special 1/2 off game play with student ID Mon: Local’s Night Free Game play with Utah ID 1781 Sidewinder Dr. #301 (3rd Floor) | Park City | 435.731.8282 | Sunsetroomparkcity.com Discover Park City’s Early Years Look for The Way We Were in every Wednesday edition of The Park Record The Potashner Bohannon Intermountain Group at Morgan Stanley Richard Potashner Senior Vice President Financial Advisor Jesse Bohannon Financial Advisor |