From Deseret News archives:
Road plans cause alarm
More than 100 at meet in American Fork attack outline
More than 100 American Fork residents complained Tuesday night about several roads that are included in the city's master transportation plan. Tuesday's gathering came on the heels of another meeting three weeks ago when hundreds of Highland residents opposed conceptual plans that would widen 9600 North in their city.
The same road, known as 1500 North in American Fork, is causing concern in American Fork with residents who say the road will only help residents of nearby towns.
"Are we not allowing the tail to wag the dog here?" American Fork resident Donald Boyle asked city officials. "Developers will develop land outside of our city, yet we feel that we need to make it easier for other residents of other cities to make it to the freeway. I wonder why we have to bear the burden to make it easier for them to travel across our city."
City leaders disagree with the majority of comments that echoed Boyle's sentiment. Public Works Director Howard Denney said the city's transportation plans are necessary to cope with an unavoidable increase in population as growth continues.
City leaders organized the public hearing Tuesday because some of the consternation from residents in Highland has "filtered into American Fork," said American Fork City Engineer Andy Spencer. Also, in a recent poll of about 400 residents, road issues were listed as the No. 1 improvement residents would like to see in the next five years.
Residents primarily complained about plans to expand 1500 North, 900 East, 1120 North, 1100 East and 50 South. In most cases, the roads run through residential areas, in front of schools or near parks. The city's master plan calls for most of the roads to be connected to larger collectors to create an overall east/west/north/south grid system for the city, but many residents at the meeting asked for the roads to be removed from the plan.
That's not likely to happen any time soon, Spencer said. The plan, which is usually revised every five years, was most recently updated in 2004.
On the other hand, most of the city's roads that are causing contention won't be built any time soon, either.
The only road funded so far is 50 South, which will be widened. Before construction on the road can begin, however, the city needs to get more money. Inflation has increased the road's cost past initial estimates.
Some of the other roads can still be evaluated and changed or not built but the chances that all of the roads will be wiped from the plan are slim, Spencer said.
"We are mandated to have a plan to determine how to handle our city's transportation needs," Spencer said. "For us to say, 'What if one road doesn't get built?' maybe that won't completely break down the transportation system. If all of them don't get built, then we have some transportation concerns."
E-mail: achoate@desnews.com
Comments
- U. hopes to keep clicking 8:28 p.m.
- Steelers lead Broncos at halftime 8:13 p.m.
- Jazz win in N.Y. for 1st time since '04 8:02 p.m.
- Suns outlast 76ers, 119-115 7:51 p.m.
- Quilt auction aims to benefit lives 7:44 p.m.
- Eating fruit not a cause of weight gain 7:44 p.m.
- Charcoal, cat-box filler help with odors 7:44 p.m.
- Wife and friend are too close 7:44 p.m.
- 'Brain' seems scattered 7:44 p.m.
- Locklear at 'Melrose Place' again 7:44 p.m.
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- Hope for single moms
- Bystanders framed for child porn
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated
- Prep girls soccer MVPs named
- Utah Jazz Extra: Whose hot/not
- GOP blasts Matheson after vote
- Newhouse Hotel, an explosive end
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
269 - House passes health care bill
225 - Lobo suspended
180 - TCU showdown has big implications
175 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
154 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
112 - Thousands protest health bill
110 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
94
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former presidential candidate John...
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
Clare... Fox is too busy *Hating* President Obama to tell the truth.
Mark my words the Utes will beat TCU by 7 points and murder the team down...
And I think if anyone in the MWC has the chance to beat TCU it is them, but...
As touching as this year has been, I agree that almost a quarter of a million...
"if lay witnesses are not mental health experts and not competent to pass...
To RedShirt | 4:06 p.m. Nov. 9, 2009 You said: “The modern...
I am liberal and proud. What are you talking about tyranny "Anti-pc" so when...
I had time to read the 2000 pages in this thing. Is there an accurate...
wonderful column. my daughter, living in Scotland, told me that the Mormons...
What going on at the Univ of New Mexico. What is in the water? A few weeks...


You can be the first to comment on this story.