ALTERNATIVE SCREENING REPORT COMMENT PERIOD
Feb. 26 – March 27, 2024
UDOT published the Alternatives Development and Screening Report, which details the screening process (how options move forward or are eliminated), the initial impacts analysis, and the alternatives (potential transportation improvements) advanced for detailed evaluation in the Draft EIS. Two alternatives, refined Alternatives A and C, passed screening.
Kimball Junction EIS Alternatives Development & Screening Summary - Feb. 26, 2024
Study Overview
The Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) mission is to keep Utah moving while enhancing quality of life through transportation improvements in our state. UDOT is conducting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to improve regional and local mobility at the Interstate 80 (I-80) and SR-224 interchange at Kimball Junction and on SR-224 from Kimball Junction through the Olympic Parkway intersection in Summit County, Utah.
The purpose of the EIS is to address transportation-related mobility for all users of the Kimball Junction area. The proposed alternatives in the EIS currently include:
- Taking no action
- Alternative A: split-diamond interchange and intersection improvements
- Alternative B: grade-separated intersections with one-way frontage roads to the I-80 interchange
- Alternative C: intersection improvements with pedestrian enhancements
- Other reasonable alternatives (if identified during the EIS process)
Study Area
The needs assessment evaluation area includes the I-80 and SR-224 interchange at Kimball Junction and SR-224 from Kimball Junction through the two at-grade intersections on SR-224 at Ute Boulevard and Olympic Parkway. The evaluation area also extends from milepost (MP) 143.2 to MP 145.6 on I-80.
Additional alternatives may be introduced and evaluated based on public and stakeholder feedback that may result in revisions to the study area.
Current Phase
Revised: 3/29/24
ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND SCREENING REPORT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
The report published today (Feb. 26, 2024), titled the Alternatives Development and Screening Results Report, identifies criteria and measures for evaluating each multi-modal alternative (potential transportation improvement), details the screening process (how options move forward or are eliminated), and identifies which alternatives are being carried forward for detailed evaluation in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Three alternatives were evaluated in a multi-level screening process to either eliminate them from further consideration or carry them forward for further evaluation in the EIS process.
The design and analysis of each of the proposed alternatives took into consideration the following:
- Planned development adopted in Summit County’s long-range plan, including local and regional growth assumptions for multiple areas in and around the Kimball Junction area
- Compatibility with the SR-224 BRT project
Alternatives Refinement: Why did we make refinements to the alternatives?
At the start of the alternatives refinement and screening process, we conducted an initial traffic evaluation on the conceptual alternatives resulting from the Kimball Junction and SR-224 Area Plan (2021) to determine whether they met applicable design criteria as well as the purpose of the project by screening for initial traffic performance measures.
Based on initial traffic results, we refined all the conceptual alternative designs that were shown to you last year to meet projected 2050 traffic growth and applicable design standards for screening. This includes an adequate number of lanes, median spacing, lane widths, and safe curve geometry for the proposed travel speeds and estimated travel demand. Engineers also performed additional design work for horizontal and vertical alignments, right-of-way needs, intersection design, pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations, access design, and potential drainage designs including stormwater management.
The refined alternatives were then carried through the full Level 3 screening process.
Level 3 Screening: Do the alternatives meet the project purpose?
The purpose of Level 3 screening was to identify alternatives that would meet the overall purpose of the project.
The refined alternatives were screened using criteria based on traffic performance measures like travel time, intersection level of service (how long you’re waiting at a light), length of vehicle queues, level of traffic stress (how comfortably pedestrians and cyclists can move through the area), and walking and transit travel times.
Alternative B did not meet the project purpose and did not pass Level 3 screening–however, it was carried forward in Level 4 screening for comparison.
No single Level 3 screening criterion is more important than another. Criteria and measures used for vehicle traffic are equally as important as criteria and measures used for active transportation. An alternative must pass each measure to pass Level 3 screening and each measure needs to be better than the transportation conditions in 2050 without the proposed transportation improvements in the Kimball Junction area.
Level 4 Screening Results: What are the impacts on key resources and costs of each alternative?
Level 4 Screening screening criteria eliminated alternatives that meet the purpose and need but would have unreasonable impacts on the natural and human environment, would not meet regulatory requirements, or could be replaced by a less costly concept with similar impacts.
Two alternatives, refined Alternatives A and C, passed Level 4 screening and are being advanced for detailed impacts analysis in the Draft EIS. Refined Alternative B was not advanced for further evaluation in the Draft EIS because it does not meet the purpose of the project (it failed Level 3 screening for pedestrian and bicyclist mobility and comfort) and would have the most Waters of the US (federally protected aquatic resources) impacts, the most property impacts, and the highest cost without substantially greater benefits in comparison to the other two options.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
The study team held a public comment period to get your feedback on the Alternatives Development and Screening Report. This report identifies criteria and measures for evaluation, details the screening process, and identifies which alternatives are carried forward for detailed evaluation in the Draft EIS. The report is available for review here.
Our study team will review all questions and comments submitted throughout the public comment period and incorporate them as applicable into the analysis for the Draft EIS. While we consider how well an alternative meets the purpose and need of the project, along with the associated environmental impacts, public comments provide opportunities for us to improve our analysis and make sure it’s thorough, accurate, and complete.
Study Process and Timeline
The anticipated project timeline outlines the phases to accomplish development of the Kimball Junction EIS. Ongoing engagement with the public will take place during the estimated time periods to keep the community informed during the EIS.
The study team will follow the EIS process established by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This includes:
- Learning about issues, needs and potential solutions from the public and other stakeholders.
- Establishing a purpose and need for any proposed improvements.
- Developing a broad range of potential transportation solutions.
- Evaluating environmental impacts of those proposed solutions.
- Selecting an alternative that best meets the needs.
- Continuous public and stakeholder engagement.
ALTERNATIVE SCREENING REPORT COMMENT PERIOD
Feb. 26 – March 27, 2024
UDOT published the Alternatives Development and Screening Report and is asking for public input on the screening process (how options move forward or are eliminated), the initial impacts analysis, and the alternatives (potential transportation improvements) advanced for detailed evaluation in the Draft EIS.
Submit Comment
Complete the form below to submit a comment and/or receive project updates. An email address must be provided in order to receive project updates but is not required to submit a comment.
Comments provided to the project team will be reviewed and considered by UDOT as it develops the project. All comments received will be documented in the project record. The study team will contact you if they need additional information or clarification.
Comments provided during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process to UDOT are a matter of public record and subject to public release, if requested. For more information, see the Terms of Use at the bottom of the Utah.gov website.
Comments that are publicly displayed through online tools must follow our UDOT Social Media Policy Participant Code of Conduct. Comments that are unacceptable under that policy may be removed at the administrator’s discretion.
Contact Us
For more information on the UDOT environmental study underway in the Kimball Junction area and to share your ideas, please contact the project team through one of the ways listed below.
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by UDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated May 26, 2022, and executed by FHWA and UDOT.
