As you’ll recall, the federal infrastructure bill was signed into law last month providing over $550 billion in new funding above baseline levels over five years for roads, bridges, rail, transit, ports, airports, water, broadband, and other infrastructure programs. The IIJA provides stability in core federal infrastructure funding and policy over the next five years, and creates opportunities to compete for discretionary grant programs (some new and some existing). You can find WFRC’s full summary of the IIJA and its transportation-related provisions HERE.

We at WFRC, along with our other partners, are busy at work analyzing and understanding the bill, its impact on Utah, and the potential opportunities available. As we receive further information over the next several months, and as we see opportunities to collaborate, you can expect continuous sharing of information from us to ensure that you and your communities are equipped with the knowledge and tools to best utilize these federal opportunities. 

Earlier this month, Governor Cox released his Budget Recommendations and policy priorities for Fiscal Year 2023. Included in the $28.5 billion budget are significant amounts of funding for the state’s infrastructure needs, including water, transportation, air quality, and housing. These recommendations will be considered with additional legislative priorities during the 2022 General Legislative Session which begins on January 18th of next year. You can review some of the notable recommended funding amounts that align with WFRC goals HERE.

 

We appreciate the Governor, and his team at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget for putting together thoughtful recommendations that contemplate the need for continued investment in infrastructure. We look forward to working with the Legislature as they also plan, prioritize, and ultimately appropriate the Fiscal Year 2023 state budget.

For those interested, the Utah League of Cities and Towns will host two opportunities for newly elected and seasoned local leaders to learn the fundamentals of local government. You’ll learn about open and public meetings, land use, powers and duties, municipal budgeting, legislative issues, resources and associations for local leaders, infrastructure maintenance, and more. The last training opportunity offered will be on Saturday, January 8th in North Salt Lake. For agendas or to register, find more information HERE.

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For more detailed information on our federal, state, and local issues, feel free to subscribe to our WFRC Government Affairs newsletter by reaching out to miranda@wfrc.org.

Carbon monoxide (CO) levels in Ogden have been at healthy levels for over 20 years, which has resulted in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) removing the air quality non-attainment designation. Ogden was first designated as a non-attainment area for CO in 1978. After decades of monitoring CO pollution, implementing vehicle emission testing, and substantial improvements in vehicle emission standards, the air in Ogden is now clear of unhealthy levels of CO pollution.  

 

The chart below shows the dramatic reductions in CO pollution measured in Ogden since 1995. The EPA health standard for CO is 9 ppm. Ogden has not exceeded that level for more than 25 years.  

 

This dramatic improvement in CO pollution comes primarily from improved vehicle emission standards and cleaner fuels. Prior to 1966, passenger cars and light-duty trucks emitted about 80-102 grams of CO per mile traveled. Following a series of vehicle emission standard improvements, the standard emission rate for CO is now 3.4 grams/mile for CO – a reduction of over 96%. Over the years as older vehicles have been replaced with newer and cleaner vehicles, the net amount of CO pollution has steadily decreased to the point that carbon monoxide levels in Ogden have remained in the healthy range for the last 26 years.  

 

Ogden joins Salt Lake City which was also designated free of unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide in 2020. Emissions of other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds – precursor emissions to particulate pollution and ozone pollution – have likewise been reduced but more work remains for management of these pollutants.

After conducting a thorough candidate search over the past several months, we are excited to announce that Michael Sobczak will be WFRC’s new Communications Manager, starting January 3, 2022. 

As an organization whose mission is to preserve and enhance quality of life in one of the fastest growing states in the nation, communicating with our communities and the public at large is important to WFRC’s work. 

WFRC’s Communications Manager will organize our communications efforts related to regional transportation planning and implementation, land use and economic development. It’s essential that our members, partners, and communities are aware of the plans and resources WFRC offers. Our ability to effectively communicate how decisions made today will shape our communities in the future is key to successfully implementing the plans we create. It’s equally essential that our communities have the opportunity to meaningfully engage in the work WFRC does. 

Mike will oversee both WFRC’s communications and public involvement efforts. 

Mike has a decade of experience as a communications professional, most of which has been working in the public sector. Mike and his partner recently moved to Utah from Illinois, where he was the Illinois Department of Human Rights Director of Public Affairs and Public Information Officer, and before that he worked in communications for the office of the Illinois Treasurer, a statewide elected office, where he oversaw marketing and digital communications projects. 

 

Mike has the nuts and bolts skills and public sector communications experience needed to help WFRC effectively engage the broad cross-section of WFRC’s key stakeholders. His skills include social media, websites, event management, media relations and graphic design. 

Notably, Mike also has a background and interests in planning. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Masters of Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

WFRC assists the Utah Transit Authority's Coordinated Mobility Team in their process of administering Federal Transit Administration (FTA) section 5310 funds for Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Persons with Disabilities. UTA is announcing the availability of these funds in Utah’s large urban areas (UZA) for Federal Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 (CFDA 20-513). UTA will be accepting applications for the following available funds for each UZA including FY2022 and FY2023 estimated appropriations. Final awards are subject to the final appropriations for FY2022 and FY2023.

Join the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation staff for a virtual presentation of the 2022 Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant programs. This will include an overview of this year's available grants, eligibility requirements, past funded projects, the online application process, planning and writing resources, a Q and A, and more! 

 

They’ll also be joined by the Division of Recreation to hear about the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grants and the OHV Fiscal Incentive Grant (FIG), and will include information on how to utilize all of these funding sources together to help support your project!

 

Finally, you will also get to hear from the National Park Service - Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program and learn how you apply to receive invaluable help in technical assistance and planning for your project.