UTAH COUNTY REGIONAL GRID STUDY

Study Overview

This study looked at an ideal grid network for Utah County, and identified key roadway projects that, when implemented, would offer the greatest benefit to increase mobility and access for users.

Many existing regional roads in Utah County are already at capacity and will not be able to meet the future demand of travelers. Adding more regional roads is the best way to alleviate congestion and reduce drive times – improving quality of life for commuters and other travelers.

The population of Utah County is on track to reach the current population of Salt Lake County in 30 years, doubling from 650,000 to 1.3 million. Infrastructure changes must be made to improve travel options and create a system capable of absorbing this growth.

What is a Regional Grid System?

A system of regional roads that help connect people to and from destinations. A well-connected grid system allows for better connections for cars, bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit vehicles that reduces travel time and helps spread travelers out, reducing congestion.

A grid system consists of:

ARTERIALS

and

COLLECTORS

Definition:
Roadways that focus on regional mobility, fewer stops and higher speeds.

Examples in Utah County:

Timpanogos Highway (S.R. 92)
S.R. 189 in Provo Canyon
State Street, Spanish Fork to Lehi

Definition:
Roadways that collect travelers from neighborhoods and help them access arterials.

Examples in Utah County:

400 East in Orem
500 North in Provo
Arrowhead Trail Road in Spanish Fork

Roadways serve two main purposes, to provide mobility and to provide access.

A regional grid is a roadway network that provides multiple routes (access) to destinations for commuters and other travelers.
The more connections created, the faster and further people can get to their place of work, school, or to commercial districts (mobility).

Utah County History - How did we get here?

Utah County originally developed as small farming communities; the historic city centers laid out in a gridded network. Over time these communities grew organically, unifying urban and suburban areas without clear borders and without necessary regional connections to facilitate travel between cities. Because this growth happened slowly, regional transportation systems were not preemptively planned, and the network was not implemented on a regional scale or in a way that anticipated growth.

MAG has developed a thorough long-range plan that will guide the future of the network in Utah County. As part of that plan, MAG conducted a preliminary study for an 'ideal' gridded network for Utah County.