State transportation officials commandeered a fluorescent green bus Thursday, hoping to spread word about a study of future traffic needs along I-15 in Utah County.

The traffic study was started late last year by the Utah Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Utah Transit Authority. The goal of the study, an environmental impact statement, is to determine what should be done along I-15 to relieve congestion.

The "borrowed" green bus is part of a campaign to make residents aware of the study. It has wording on the side that asks people to "give their thoughts" about I-15 in Utah County. Any public comment received will become an official part of the EIS study.

"I think this is part of a grass-roots, public-outreach effort," UDOT spokesman Brent Wilhite said. "We want people to get involved in this, and this is one of the ways to inform people of the study."

UDOT has already determined that five options for congestion relief should be studied further:

• No Build. Beyond current projects on I-15, this option is to determine how bad congestion would be if nothing was done to I-15.

• Low-cost improvements, including enhanced bus service, ramp metering and additional park-and-ride lots.

• Widen and reconstruct I-15 from Draper to Santaquin. From Draper to University Parkway, lanes would be increased from three to six. From University Parkway to Mapleton, lanes would be expanded to five.

• Widen and reconstruct I-15 from Draper to Santaquin. Build commuter rail from Salt Lake County to Provo.

• Widen and reconstruct I-15 from Draper to Santaquin. Build a bus rapid transit system from Salt Lake City to Provo.

"The release of five possible transportation solutions marks an important milestone in the project and a key time for public feedback," said Merrell Jolley, UDOT project manager for the study.

Over the next year to two years, UDOT officials will study the five alternatives and determine what is best for congestion relief in the area. Public input is considered during determinations.

"This is more like a skeleton, and now we need to flesh it out," Wilhite said.

Residents say a traffic fix is needed soon.

Traffic volume in and out of the county is estimated at 128,000 cars per day along I-15. By 2030, that number is projected to be at 230,000.

Funding does not exist for expansion of I-15. Right of way has been purchased for commuter rail, but UTA officials say they need a commitment from local governments to help fund its construction.

Utah County officials are wary of spending money on a project whose plans remain in the study phase.

On Oct. 15, Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert will hold a transportation summit to study ways to fund transportation throughout the state. Based on input from the summit, he and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will formulate an initiative that details ways to address the problem.

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Provide input on road study

UDOT and UTA unveiled their fluorescent green bus in July. The bus has been driven along Route 811 from Provo Towne Centre to the Sandy TRAX station at 10000 South.

To give comments on UDOT's I-15 study, log on to udot.utah.gov/i15/utah county or call: 1-888-i15-UTCO.

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com