CLEARFIELD —The Utah Department of Transportation has set its final two public open houses to seek additional input on its five-year priority list and its 30-year plan for improved east-west access in Weber and north Davis counties.

The first of the open houses will be Wednesday, June 11, 4:30-7 p.m. at Clearfield City offices, 55 S. State. The second and final open house will be Thursday, June 12, 4:30-7 p.m. in the theater annex at Union Station, 2501 Wall Ave., Ogden.

Those who can't attend one of the meetings can e-mail their comments.

The study seeks to address how residents will get around in 2040 and what transportation issues need immediate attention. The study area stretches from Farmington north to Plain City and Farr West to North Ogden.

UDOT wants to address east-west access because the west sides of Davis and Weber counties are growing quickly and many locations rely on two-lane roads. It is estimated that 660,000 people could live between Farmington and the Box Elder County line by 2040.

The study began in September 2007 and will conclude in August. UDOT will report study findings to the Legislature in September.

UDOT initially separated its east-west plans into four color-coded options. According to Nathan Peterson, a project engineer with UDOT, it has now selected a somewhat modified "blue" alternative as the preferred option.

He said additional bus rapid transit is the main modification UDOT has made to that plan, as presented during the February open houses.

The blue alternative also has an emphasis on access to commuter rail stops and on maintaining high-speed roads such as freeways and wide arterial streets. It encompasses a variety of transportation options to avoid traffic congestion.

He describes the blue plan as "a good, balanced alternative."

However, he stressed that while the northern extension of the Legacy Highway shows up in various forms on the colored options, this study does not dictate any set parameters to that proposed multiland road. It is a separate issue and also a north-south corridor and not a direct focus in this study.

Peterson also said he's not aware of any major concerns the public has expressed so far regarding the east-west travel options.

"We're presenting the alternatives. We're seeking some opinions," Peterson said, still encouraging any comments the public wants to make.

To make a comment on east-west road planning, e-mail: chulet@langdongroupinc.com.

Phone: 801-388-1839

Other information is available at www.udot.utah.gov/daviswebereastwest.

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E-mail: lynn@desnews.com