HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS NEWSLETTER INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
- WFRC Equity Web Page & Resources
- Map of the Month: Updated Wasatch Choice Centers - A Team Effort!
- Wasatch Choice Case Studies: Millcreek
- Government Affairs Update
- Ogden Express | Coming 2023
- Goat Head Removal SUCCESS!
|
|
WFRC Equity Web Page & Resources |
|
The built environment -- our transportation system, land uses, and how they work together -- plays a critical role in how residents of the Wasatch Front access employment, education, health care, recreation, and other destinations that are key to leading a happy, healthy, and productive life.
Recognizing the importance of providing these opportunities to all residents, WFRC - through its Council of elected officials and other community leaders - has adopted an organizational goal to “promote inclusive engagement in transportation planning processes and equitable access to affordable and reliable transportation options.” This includes addressing it through the Wasatch Choice Vision and its implementation.
WFRC’s new Equity Planning web page helps advance this goal of addressing equity in our planning. It outlines the importance of equity considerations in WFRC’s planning processes and how WFRC works toward improving equity in our work, and it links to supporting information and resources.
|
|
Updated Wasatch Choice Centers - A Team Effort!
Map of the Month
|
|
By locating homes, jobs, and transportation in coordination with one another, we can provide real choices for residents to meet their housing, neighborhood, and community preferences.
The Wasatch Choice Centers are community-identified locations for absorbing future growth that are walkable, offer transportation options, and a mix of land uses and amenities.
|
|
Wasatch Choice Case Studies |
|
Utah was the fastest-growing state in the nation over the past ten years, and that growth continues. This creates strains on our transportation, housing prices and availability, air quality, and water. Understandably, some residents have questions about the impacts of that growth on their overall quality of life, now and into the future. How are local communities responding to and planning for these challenges to ensure that the quality of life in the region remains high for generations to come?
Over several months, WFRC is sharing case studies from communities around the region that are working to address the challenges of growth and recovery from COVID-19, using the Wasatch Choice Regional Vision as a foundation. Case studies explore:
- How communities are working with their residents.
- Approaches being used to coordinate the location of land use, housing, transportation, economic development, and open space to achieve a higher quality of life.
- How communities are meeting new requirements for their General Plans.
- Overall key lessons learned.
|
|
Pictured above: A rendering of Millcreek Commons, the new city center,
to be located at Highland Drive and 3300 South.
Millcreek is a largely built-out suburban community. In recent years the city has focused on how to create a mixed-use, transit-oriented city center - a heart of the community. The city center allows for a broad mix of land uses organized around a central “Millcreek Commons.”
|
|
Federal Update
After weeks of negotiating between Democratic party progressives and moderates, Congressional leadership and the White House, the bipartisan infrastructure bill vote was postponed again after Democrats were unable to reach consensus on the size and scope of the reconciliation bill. As we have shared with you previously, Democratic leadership has acceded to demands from progressives that the House passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill is contingent on a budget reconciliation agreement of up to $3.5 trillion in social infrastructure spending, which encompasses President Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda. The President has reaffirmed that passage of the infrastructure bill is tied to reconciliation, a concession to the progressives. However, he also noted that the cost of reconciliation will have to come down from the $3.5 trillion proposed to somewhere in the range of $1.9-2.3 trillion, a concession to the moderates.
Though we’ll wait for a final vote, which is targeted to occur by the end of October, there is still optimism for the passage of a federal infrastructure bill, particularly because a full, 5-year reauthorization of surface transportation programs will need to be passed, and is currently included in the infrastructure bill. Though the House and the Senate passed a third extension of the surface transportation authorization over the weekend to repair a brief lapse in Highway Trust Fund programs and spending authority, that extension only lasts until the month’s end.
Additionally, with the federal fiscal year ending and a government shutdown looming over the body, Congress voted last Thursday to pass the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (H.R. 5305), a stopgap spending bill to fund federal government operations through December 3rd. Not included in the resolution, however, was a provision to increase the federal debt limit, which Congress must now address prior to October 18th in order to avoid what Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has indicated is the date in which the U.S. would default on its debt obligations. However, it has been reported today that Democrats and Republicans may have reached a short-term deal on a debt ceiling increase as they continue to work through reconciliation, infrastructure, and appropriations.
We anticipate congress will continue to address these issues over the coming weeks and months.
|
|
Ogden Express | Coming 2023 |
|
It’s official, Ogden/WSU BRT is now Ogden Express (OGX for short)! When operational in late 2023, OGX will provide riders a clean-air ride in an electric bus from the Ogden FrontRunner Station, through downtown Ogden, along Harrison Boulevard, through Weber State University campus, and to Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital. Visit the UTA Ogden Bus Transit Facebook page for construction updates.
|
|
Goat Head Removal SUCCESS! |
|
Last month some of our staff donated their time and effort to volunteer for the Jordan River Commission. Time was spent removing goat heads, a noxious weed with sharp burs, at the Northwest Recreation Center that leads to the trail, and wow were there a lot!
We were able to help prevent popped tires and punctured paws by removing over 330 pounds of goat heads. Best of all we got to help our community and see some of our team in a safe environment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
