I-15 Coalition Statement

The following statement was read by Fairpark Community Council chairman Nigel Swaby at a May community meeting with representatives of the Utah Department of Transportation, representing a coalition of organizations opposed to the planned expansion of Interstate 15.

The I-15 opposition coalition is a diverse group of residents, businesses, community organizations and environmental groups opposed to the expansion of I-15 in Davis and Salt Lake Counties. We have poured over the recent draft statement released by UDOT and its consultants and stand in opposition to the expansion proposal.

First, we find the expansion of the freeway in [to be] in direct opposition to the concept of reducing traffic along the I-15 corridor. The idea of expanding the freeway to only one lane on each side is expensive, counter-productive to homes and businesses along the corridor and induces increasing demand instead of lowering it.

In the past few years, the State has demonstrated it clearly understands the concept of induced demand when it lowered the number of available beds at the new prison and in the homeless resource centers.

While we are supportive of some of the proposed changes to the freeway interchanges, we don’t believe expanding the lanes by one will achieve desired results.