OCR Text |
Show Federal Urban Aid funds by congressional mandate are restricted to those communities that have been designed as urban in nature. Until 1977 the Transportation Urban Planning Program had covered ail of Utah County. However, to comply with the federal definitions thus maintaining eligibility for the funds, which constitute 80 of street construction costs, the UVATS study area was realigned along coming year as well as outlining what projects may be anticipated during the next five years. During those lines. 1977 the major emphasis of the Transportation The realignment, however, does not mean the less urbanized areas of Utah County and Wasatch Improvement Program was on the upgrading and improving of existing streets. At least one new street and Summit Counties are being neglected in either transportation planning or funding. By the end of project of major importance was included and that was the Orem Center Street project. Other projects 1977, the Association had completed a study of the included the improvement of the entrance to the Utah types and location of highways and roads that are Technical College on 1200 South Street in Orem; the needed to guarantee proper access to all points in the counties and to also guarantee the maintenance improvement of the intersection of U.S. 89 and the of economic activities that are dependent on proper Geneva Road; and preliminary engineering for improvements to 100 West Sheet in American Fork. transportation facilities. Transportation has a profound impact on life in the Mount ainland region as shown in the Provo-- 0 rem area. For this reason the Mountainland Association of Governments has been conducting a transportation planning program called the Utah Valley Area Transportation Study (UVATS). The purpose of UVATS is to study transportation problems, develop plans of action to deal with those problems, and coordinate those plans with the various state arid local units of government. It is anticipated the results of this planning program will be a safe, efficient transportation system in the Provo-Orearea at a cost the area can afford. m The currant plan transportation The current transportation plan is divided into two segments: UVATS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT: The Transportation System Management is geared to solving the short term needs of the Provo-Orearea through more efficient use of the existing transportation system without major capital investments. Some examples of how our transportation system can be managed more efficiently include the installation of more sophisticated traffic signal systems at key intersections to improve traffic flow; a greater use of ADDITIONS TO EXISTING PLUS COMMITTED NETWORK m The hus and beyond e As has previously been mentioned the element of the transportation plan recommends improvement of the area's public transit system. During 1977 the cities of Provo and Orem requested the Mountainland Association of Governments through its UVATS study to undertake the development of a Transit Development Plan for their one-wa- y two cities. The study was divided into two phases. streets; reduction of parking in some areas; eliminating some railroad crossings; The first phase was to develop alternative transit widening certain intersections; and staggering work systems with different types of transit vehicles and hours. Other methods emphasize the reduction of routes. Each system was analyzed to determine toe vehicle use. To accomplish this, UVATS recommends number of people it would serve, the capital as well the use of carpooling, van pooling, fringe parking to as operating costs, and the areas where transit facilitate carpooling, and the greater use of bicycles, would be of most value. The alternative appearing to be the most feasible and desirable for toe area particularly by those, attending the areas university and college. featured a combination of both fixed route service E ELEMENT: and demand responsive service in both communities The element is geared to solving the and service for major attractions such as the more long term needs of the area where it can be University Mall in Orem, the Provo downtown seen from the study's investigations that shopping area, the BYU campus and the LDS Transportation System Management activities will not Temple in Provo. The second phase of the Transit Development adequately meet the area's long term needs. The e current element recommends two types of Plan deals with the final selection of a desired alternative and then developing the details needed major improvements to our existing transportation system the construction of a limited number of new before operations can begin. The elected officials felt work on phase two should not start until the streets and facilities and the development of an transit residents of the two cities had an opportunity to system. improved The following map identifies eight new streets or indicate whether or not they would support public facilities which have been recommended in the transit. element to meet the area's long term needs. long-rang- on-stre- et LONG-RANG- long-ran- ge long-rang- long-ran- r.mno transportation Palter ge Your voice eras heard In November 1977, the residents of Provo and Orem cast their votes on the question should there be created a public transit district?" The vote of 10,483 for and 6,422 against was a mandate to the officials of the two cities that public transit should become a In order to implement the transportation plan just e vital part of an described, representatives of the various transportation system. UVATS in the Accordingly the elected officials have since appointed governmental agencies participating study annually compile a Transportation Improvement a Board of Directors for toe Utah Valley Transit Authority the name by which the public transit Program which describes the specific transportation toe undertaken district was Incorporated. to be during projects improvement i.'.ViViVi1.'. Y iY.Yi VY.Y . V.,',', ,.Y,V,,.,tVf,.ViVVY VrV iVry Y. .'.v. area-wid- v Yr ' . . 4 |