In this Issue:

WFRC Council News

• That’s a Wrap on AMPO 2024!
• Congrats, Mayors Mark Shepherd and Debbie Winn!
• Welcome Johnnae Nardone, WFRC’s Communications Manager!

Map of the Month

• Great Streets: A Street Typology for the Wasatch Choice Centers

Government Affairs

• Utah State Legislature Interim Session: September 18, 2024
• Grant Funding for Water Use and Preservation Element

Planning for the Future

• Tooele Valley Adopts Long-Range Transportation Plan
• TLC Program Awarded by ASLA for Seven Greenways Vision 

On the Horizon

• Webinar Sept. 30 | The City and Town Center Menu: Which one is right for your community?
• 2024 Utah Transportation Conference

Stay updated with the latest from WFRC by following our social channels!

That's a Wrap on AMPO 2024!

WFRC staff at the 2024 AMPO Annual Conference in Salt Lake City

We just wrapped up a week of hosting friends and colleagues from around the country at the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) Annual Conference that took place in downtown Salt Lake City, with tours around our region. 

What came through, again and again, is that MPOs around the country are providing vision, a forum for collaboration, and technical expertise in supporting our regions through the challenges of growth, adapting to shifting conditions, and being responsive to the needs of their communities. Stories of innovation and collaboration, and insight about what’s ahead were abundant. 

We are grateful for the involvement from Utah leaders and partner organizations who attended and participated in the conference. Special thanks to those who presented or led tours at the conference, including Congressman Burgess Owens, Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson, WFRC Chair and South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Utah Department of Transportation, Utah Transit Authority, Mountainland Association of Governments, and others. And, of course, well done to our friends at AMPO — they were incredible to work with over the past year! 

Also, a big shout out to the WFRC team that led local tours every day (Monday through Friday), but in particular our Organizational Operations Team who went above and beyond making sure no detail was missed for AMPO staff and attendees. 

Overall the team is inspired and energized and ready to keep doing this work with each and every one of you! 

Congrats, Mayors Mark Shepherd and Debbie Winn!

Congratulations, Clearfield Mayor Mark Shepherd for receiving the Community Wingman Award from Hill Air Force Base for his commitment to Clearfield (Utah’s “Military City”), local military and defense organizations, and continued support for our airmen and their families!

Congratulations Tooele City Mayor Debbie Winn for receiving the Public Sector Leadership in Economic Development Award from EDCUtah! This award recognizes Utah people and institutions who are making an incredible, tangible impact on our state - helping to bring jobs, investment, and prosperity to Utah communities. Well done, Mayor Winn!

In future newsletters, we'll periodically highlight achievements in our community. Have ideas? Let us know at communications@wfrc.org.

Welcome Johnnae Nardone, WFRC’s Communications Manager!

We are excited to welcome Johnnae Nardone as WFRC's new Communications Manager! In her role, Johnnae will lead communications and outreach efforts for WFRC across key areas like regional transportation planning, land use, and economic development. She will help our members stay informed about WFRC’s resources, expertise, and opportunities, while keeping the public engaged and aware of ways to get involved.

Johnnae brings extensive experience in strategic and digital communications from both the nonprofit and public sectors. Most recently, she spent five years as the digital lead at UTA, where she gained insight into the media, community, and policy landscape related to transportation and planning.

We are confident that Johnnae’s skills and experience will enhance our ability to connect with and serve our community. She looks forward to meeting you and hopes you’ll reach out with any suggestions, ideas, and requests pertaining to WFRC’s communications and public engagement. She can be reached at jnardone@wfrc.org. Welcome aboard, Johnnae!

Great Streets: A Street Typology for the Wasatch Choice Centers

Wasatch Choice Great Streets is a framework for making regional transportation decisions that complement the places that serve as the heart of each community.

The Great Streets toolkit is for stakeholders across the Wasatch Front Region — small and larger communities, transportation agencies, and private sector partners — to collaborate on the planning and delivery of changes to major streets in ways that balance mobility and place-making.

Included in the toolkit is an overview of the Great Streets framework and the Great Streets typology interactive map for the WFRC area. This map characterizes the role that streets within metropolitan, urban, and city-level Wasatch Choice Vision Centers might best play in their communities. When streets and their context complement one another, the benefits accrue in safety, quality of place, stronger economies, and access to opportunities.

The Great Streets typology is designed to be a living map. Please pass along any feedback to Ted Knowlton or Julie Bjornstad.

Utah State Legislature Interim Session

September 18, 2024

Members of the Transportation Committee and Political Subdivisions Committee invited WFRC and MAG to provide an update regarding Station Area Planning efforts in our region. Megan Townsend, WFRC Director of Community and Economic Development, Andrew Gruber, WFRC Executive Director, and representatives from the Mountainland Association of Governments discussed progress to date, highlighted the collaboration between cities, developers, MPOs, UTA, and other stakeholders in planning for future transit-oriented development in these key locations, and answered questions from legislators and community residents. 

Also, at the Transportation Committee meeting, WFRC’s Senior Transportation Engineer and Air Quality Analyst Kip Billings, MAG’s MPO Director LaNiece Davenport, and Andrew Gruber shared the WFRC and MAG Comprehensive Safety Action Plans and discussed opportunities for cities and towns to implement the recommended safety measures.

General Plan Water Element Grant Program

Grant applications for assistance from the Utah Department of Natural Resources developing the water element of your general plan are open from September 9 - October 24. Communities interested in grants for technical assistance to integrate a water element into their general plans are encouraged to apply.

Tooele Valley Adopts Long-Range Transportation Plan

At their September 9 meeting, the Tooele Valley Rural Planning Organization adopted the 2024-2050 Tooele Valley Long-Range Transportation Plan (Plan). The Plan identifies needed road, transit, pedestrian, and bicycle infrastructure and services over the next several years and in the coming decades. A few examples include future phases of MidValley Highway, On Demand transit service expansion, and a multi-use path along Droubay Road. WFRC was glad to be able to provide support in this important effort. 

TLC Program Awarded by ASLA for Seven Greenways Vision

WFRC is thrilled to report that the Transportation and Land Use Connection (TLC) program has received an award for the Seven Greenways Vision plan from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)! The Seven Greenways Vision plan inspires a common vision to revitalize our waterways.

The Seven Greenways Vision Plan was led by Salt Lake County, and included Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, Midvale, Millcreek, Murray, Sandy, Salt Lake City, and South Salt Lake. The Seven Canyons Trust served as a local non-profit partner, and continues to work on implementing the Vision today. The effort produced a common vision to revitalize our waterways, connecting people through greenways in the Salt Lake Valley over the next 100 years. 

WFRC & MAG invite you to a webinar: 

The City and Town Center Menu 

Which one is right for your community?

Centers are the heart of your community — where people gather, where public spaces, commerce, and housing meet, and people are offered choices on how to get around.

As our communities grow, focusing on centers offers vibrancy to your community and also offers opportunities for economic growth and building in a way that has multiple positive impacts for your whole town or city.

In support of the Wasatch Choice Vision, this free 60-minute webinar will cover the role centers play in addressing the challenges of growth, the various types of centers you can choose from, and how to get started in planning one for your community.

Join us on Monday, September 30, at 12:00 pm.