Finally, relief for Davis County

At last, Davis County commuters will have an alternative.

That is the only proper attitude to adopt in the wake of a unique settlement last week between state transportation officials and environmentalists, ending years of litigation that held up construction of the Legacy Parkway. Never mind the details — just get the road built.

The agreement itself has some curious aspects to it, which attempt to turn a vital commuter highway into some sort of scenic byway. But at least it will end years of frustration and wasted money, and it will offer the fast-growing northern suburbs of the Salt Lake metro area a hope that someday soon they will have an alternate way to enter the city.

The need for an additional freeway has been apparent for years. Davis County has been growing quickly, increasing daily traffic along I-15 and choking off access to and from Salt Lake County during peak morning and afternoon commute times.

Environmentalists have long argued that the highway itself would lead to growth, which is a ridiculous contention. Without the parkway, the land in question quickly would fill with strip malls and housing developments. In Utah, at least, sprawl has nothing to do with the existence of freeways. Consider the growth of Utah County's Eagle Mountain as exhibit A. That city has grown out of nowhere despite virtually no easy access. People move to the outskirts for many reasons other than freeway access.

In that sense, the Legacy Parkway compromise will do nothing to inhibit growth along its eastern edge (the western edge will be protected by a nature preserve). But it may well create worse traffic and pollution problems elsewhere.

That's because the agreement prohibits large commercial trucks from riding the parkway. That means the businesses that locate near Legacy will have to be serviced by trucks that exit I-15 and negotiate long stretches of slower city roads.

The agreement also calls for a 55 mph speed limit. That should be considered a job-security measure for Highway Patrol officers, given how drivers through the years have shown little patience for that speed. It is worth noting, however, that 55 could seem refreshingly fast on days when I-15 is crawling at 25 mph or less.

The environmental concessions in the agreement are the aspects most worthy of praise. State transportation officials already were planning a nature preserve between the parkway and the Great Salt Lake. Those plans now have been strengthened. Many Utahns may not appreciate the delicate and important role the Great Salt Lake plays in the ecosystem, but its preservation is vital to the quality of life across the Wasatch Front and beyond.

If nothing else, the Legacy Parkway saga has taught state officials that it is important to begin seeking partners among environmentalists at the earliest stages of a project. Such cooperation may not always lead to the most ideal solutions, but at least it could save taxpayers years of expensive litigation and delayed construction.