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Corridor Preservation
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Corridor Preservation Funding: For local Corridor Preservation Funding program, please go to Local Corridor Preservation Fund. Corridor Preservation Committee:
The Regional Growth Committee (RGC) and the Corridor Preservation
Committee, which is a part of the RGC, have responsibility for corridor
preservation in the Region and are advisory bodies to the Regional Council. The Corridor Preservation Committee is
regionally based. Its purpose is to
facilitate the cooperation of all the participants, or stakeholders (federal,
state, local jurisdictions, private sector, and citizens) involved in the
corridor preservation process in the Region, and to assist in achieving the
objectives of the UDOT’s Corridor Preservation Advisory Committee. The Committee’s corridor preservation
efforts focus on all major transportation projects that are a part of the
Region’s Long Range Transportation Plan.
In its meetings, the Committee discusses corridor preservation issues
and makes recommendations for future preservation actions. The Committee’s responsibilities primarily
include: (1) provide recommendations on corridor preservation techniques; (2)
evaluate problems and issues as they arise; (3) provide educational
opportunities to local jurisdictions on specific corridor location and
preservation tools information; (4) provide recommendations on the Region’s
priorities on specific corridors for which preservation actions should be
taken; (5) make recommendations to the Advisory Council on the use of
Corridor Preservation Funds for acquisition of properties in the Region; and
(6) provide guidance to corridor preservation plans/studies that may be
prepared by the Regional Council staff. Corridor Preservation/Management: A “corridor” is defined as “the path
of a transportation facility that already exists or may be built in the
future”. The AASHTO defines corridor
preservation as “a concept utilizing the coordinated application of various
measures to obtain control of or otherwise protect the right-of-way for a
planned transportation facility”. Some
of the objectives of corridor preservation include: prevent inconsistent
development; minimize or avoid environmental, social, and economic impacts
from future transportation projects; reduce displacement; prevent the
foreclosure of desirable location options; allow for the orderly assessment
of impacts; permit orderly project development; reduce costs; and others. Access Management: Access management is similar to
corridor preservation. The difference
is that it deals with mostly existing facilities, but it can also be applied
to planned facilities. Access
management is important in the preservation of capacity on existing
transportation facilities. It is
primarily accomplished by controlling adjacent land use, and the property
access/local street connections. Some
aspects of access management include: UDOT’s permitting process; access
management standards; purpose and benefits; tools and techniques,
identification of “need” or priority corridors. Corridor Preservation
Tools/Techniques:
There are a variety of planning tools that can be used by local
governments. These tools basically
fall into three categories: (1) acquisition; (2) exercise of planning and
zoning powers; and (3) voluntary agreements and governmental
inducements. The latter two offer some
distinct advantages from a monetary standpoint, as they may not require outright
fee simple acquisition of properties.
Some examples of tools that offer interim corridor protection are:
option to purchase, official map, General (Master or Comprehensive) Plan
designation, concurrency ordinances, zoning and subdivision controls; development
agreements, annexation agreements, voluntary developer reservation, access
management and control, and density transfers within the parcel for which
development is proposed. Some examples
of permanent preservation tools are: fee simple acquisition, development
easements, landowner donation, exchange of property, private land trusts,
impact fees, exactions, recoupment ordinances, set-back ordinances, transfer
of development rights, and development agreements. UDOT’s
Corridor Preservation Advisory Council and Revolving Loan Fund: The Advisory
Council was established to evaluate hardship and pre-emptive property
acquisition proposals and provide recommendations to the Transportation
Commission on the expenditure of funds from the Revolving Loan Fund for the
acquisition of property that conflicts with a priority transportation
corridor. Both UDOT and local
governments can apply for Revolving Loan Funds. (For more information about the Advisory
Council and the Revolving Loan Fund contact John Quick, UDOT Transportation
Engineer for Planning). Stakeholder Roles: The Metropolitan Planning Organization
(MPO), which is also the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), plays a
leadership role in corridor preservation through its long range planning and
programming activities. Federal
transportation law requires metropolitan transportation plans to address
corridor preservation and to identify corridors in most need of action to
prevent destruction or loss. Also, the
MPOs are directed to work toward greater consistency of transportation plans
and programs with local land use plans.
The MPO addresses the need for corridor preservation and measures to
be pursued in the Long Range Transportation Plan. It provides technical assistance to local
governments on corridor preservation and facilitates state and local
coordination. Local
Governments establish the foundation for corridor preservation in the
General, or Master Plan. This can be
accomplished by designating corridors in the transportation element of the
General Plan; enacting goals, objectives and policies that advance corridor
management; and including a future transportation map that depicts the
location and width of designated corridor rights-of-way. The Plan should include local corridors as
well as corridors identified by UDOT and the WFRC. If a designated corridor is part of the
State Highway System, and/or Long Range Transportation Plan, the local
government should notify the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and/or
the WFRC before approving any rezoning, building permit, subdivision change,
or other permitting activity that would substantially impair the future
viability of the corridor for transportation purposes. Timely communication on these issues is
important to the success of corridor preservation efforts. The Utah
Department of Transportation has responsibility for the Corridor Preservation
Revolving Loan Fund, which can be used for the acquisition of properties
within a corridor that have the potential to substantially impair the
viability of the transportation corridor for transportation purposes. These financial resources are made
available for hardship and pre-emptive acquisitions only if there is a
willing seller. Eminent domain cannot
be used for corridor preservation property acquisition. UDOT and the WFRC are responsible for
working cooperatively in providing local governments with specific corridor
information, the criteria used for prioritizing the use funds from the
Revolving Loan Fund, as well as information on the use of planning tools and
techniques. SENATE BILL 8: In the 2005 General Session of the Utah State Legislature, Senate Bill
8 passed and was signed into law by Governor John Huntsman. The legislation creates an opportunity for
the respective county governments to impose a fee of up to $10 per vehicle
registration for the purposes of corridor preservation. These funds are to be used in the county in
which they are generated and are to be held by UDOT in behalf of the local
governments. The county council of
governments has the duty, under the legislation, to prioritize the use of
these funds for the purposes of corridor preservation, provided that the
corridor to be preserved is first identified in the Regional Transportation
Plan adopted by the area MPO. The new
law takes effect on January 1, 2006.
No fees may be imposed before that time. Staff Contact: George Ramjoue |
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Updated June 20, 2006 |
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Wasatch
Front Regional Council Salt
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